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Caroline Brown was just one of two who were named United States Lifesaving Association Junior Lifeguard of the Year 2019.
Caroline Brown was just one of two who were named United States Lifesaving Association Junior Lifeguard of the Year 2019.
Caroline Brown loves lifeguarding and everything about it. From the friendships she’s made with the people she’s met from all over the country at national competitions, to the physical demand of the sport and job, it’s certainly one of the things she loves to do most.
The United States Lifesaving Association — the country’s nonprofit professional association of beach lifeguards and open water rescuers — saw that in her and decided to reward her for it.
Brown was selected as one of two USLA Junior Lifeguards of the Year for 2019, which was voted on recently by the seven regional lifesaving association delegates at their last national board of directors meeting in Kauai, Hawaii. Brown, 16, who attends East Hampton High School, will receive a $100 scholarship from USLA, a plaque and an article in American Lifeguard Magazine. She is the first Hampton Lifeguard Association guard to ever win the award.
According to the USLA website, Junior Lifeguard of the Year is awarded to the junior guard member whose character, performance and attitude best represent the mission of the USLA, which is to reduce the incidence of death and injury in the aquatic environment through public education, national lifeguard standards, training programs, promotion of high levels of lifeguard readiness, and other means. USLA said the decision was made “based on the merit of the submission,” which was sent in by Craig Brierley, captain of the East Hampton Town Lifeguards and a coach for the Hampton Lifeguard Association competition teams, on top of being Brown’s varsity swim coach on the East Hampton swim team. Brierley said Brown is very deserving of the award.
“She is committed to training in competition events and in lifeguard skills. She is a wonderful mentor to our younger junior lifeguards, teaching them all she has learned to help them become better,” he explained. “Our agency will benefit greatly when Caroline is old enough to start lifeguarding for East Hampton Town.”
East Hampton Town Chief of Lifeguards John Ryan Jr. congratulated Brown.
“Big congrats to you, Caroline, for your dedication, personal drive and passion for the sport and competition,” he said in an email forwarded by Brierley. “You have earned it and are a role model for all our juniors and nippers.”
Brown found out she had won the award on Monday, December 16, when Brierley forwarded her the email that said she would be one of two recipients. It was a complete surprise, she said.
“It is a national award and there are so many amazing athletes in the United States that I was just honored to be nominated for the award,” the Springs resident said. “It feels really amazing. I love the sport so much, and it’s so important that the kids out here are involved in the program. I have grown up in this program, and I’m so honored that I was able to receive this award for HLA as a whole. I would not have been able to get it without the help of my coaches and the constant support that I receive from HLA.
“I have formed so many friendships and have been able to meet people from all over the country. It’s really cool to be able to compete and work with the people that inspire you the most.”
Brown has swam the past seven years for the East Hampton YMCA Hurricanes swim team but she is taking this winter off to travel to some lifeguard camps around the country and train with other guards. Competing in lifeguard competitions throughout the summer, routinely qualifying for nationals, Brown said her favorite events are the paddleboard and Ironguard events.
Brown plans on getting her ocean guard certification this upcoming June so she can transition from a junior to an adult lifeguard.
“I have been doing the test since I was 12. It has become second nature to me, and I have been able to help other people to learn the test every summer. I am really excited to get my certification this June.
“This would not have been possible without the help of my many coaches including Ryan Paroz, Amanda Calabrese, T.J. Calabrese, Bob Pucci, Craig Brierley and many more.”
