By Ryan Givens
After taking home the crown last summer, Longport hosted the premier race of the season. South Jersey’s best met on the beach at 31st Avenue to determine who would claim the crown for 2017.
At the end of the night, Longport would defend their home beach and become back to back champs, scoring in every event. A key first place finish in the swim that came after a last second surge from John Tepper would lead Longport to the win. With the addition of a pair of second place finishes in both singles and doubles row, Longport finished well ahead of the competition scoring 13 points.
Ventnor and Avalon, both scoring 8 points, would take the 2nd and 3rd place in the team titles respectively. Ventnor took the higher position because of a higher finish in the doubles row, the tie breaking event. Sea Isle’s Connal Loughlin was the lone scorer for SICBP taking second in the swim.
Although the South Jersey Championships conclude the major races of the 2017 season, multiple unique lifeguard events are set for the remainder of the summer. Up next, the South Jersey Paddleboard Races, are slated for Monday August 14th on 16th Street in Brigantine.
Photos and Results Provided by Dale Braun
Doubles Row:
1st – Ventnor
2nd – Longport
3rd – Avalon
4th – Upper Township
5th – Margate
Swim:
1st – Longport
2nd – Sea Isle
3rd – Ocean City
4th – Wildwood Crest
5th – Margate
Singles Row:
1st – Avalon
2nd – Longport
3rd – Ventnor
4th – Margate
5th – Atlantic City
Overall:
1st – Longport (13 points)
2nd – Ventnor (8 points Tiebreaker)
3rd – Avalon (8 points)
4th – Margate (4 points Tiebreaker)
5th – Sea Isle (4 points)
6th – Ocean City (3 points)
