By chris kelly
Staff Writer
CHRIS KELLY Seven Presidents lifeguards John Venino and Michelle Kantor start the second leg of the boat relay at the Aug. 14 Manasquan Invitational. The Long Branch-based team finished fifth in the event, and sixth overall.
They may not be the biggest team in Monmouth County, but the lifeguard squad from Seven Presidents Park in Long Branch will certainly make you earn every victory.
Pulling off victories against perennial powerhouse lifeguard teams like Bradley Beach, Belmar and Sea Girt is very difficult, but for the Seven Presidents Park team, putting forth a strong effort is all that is necessary.
"We’re a small team, but everyone has a big heart," said team member Mike "Spike" Fowler. "We know that we’re going to have a difficult time in a lot of the tournaments we compete in because of the teams who compete; however, that doesn’t mean we’re not going to try and win.
"Seven Presidents may not have won many tournaments, but we sure surprised a lot of people throughout the season by winning a lot of events that we weren’t expected to."
The Monmouth County Park System’s Long Branch-based team ended their 2002 competition season in the Manasquan Invitational Aug. 14.
After the seven-event tournament was over, Bradley Beach, Belmar and Sea Girt finished in order, with Seven Presidents placing sixth.
While rounding out the field in three events in sixth place — the run relay, paddle relay and beach flags — the scrappy group from Long Branch placed fifth in the boat relay and rescue relay, while finishing fourth in the swim relay.
In their fourth-place event, Evan Carhart, Regina Kamenel, J.C. Rodenberg, and Brian Fish each swam over 100 yards to give their team their highest finish in the tournament.
Even though Seven Presidents were actually in third place in the medley relay race, the team was eventually disqualified for an infraction of the rules.