Rehoboth Beach Patrol puts new recruits to the test

With 14 new members of the Rehoboth Beach Patrol, the annual rookie test showcased who has trained the hardest since Memorial Day weekend. With events ranging from sprint-swims to push-ups, the rookies had to pass every test in order to become an official member of the patrol. Each event was a race or a test that was scored based on rank, and at the end of the second day, the rookie with the most points would win the title Rookie of the Year.

The events started July 7 with the run-swim-run and mile swim, while other events followed July 8. Ryan Kozel won the run-swim-run, while Brittany "T-Shawn" Luzik fought off the jellyfish and took first in the mile swim.

Day two brought a variety of events that tested endurance, skills, strength and abilities. To bring the rookies to their destination, they first started with the 800-meter run, won by Connor Lingo. They next took to the water for the sprint-swim event, where Kozel once again beat his competition. Lauren Fura then held her own in the push-up challenge, winning first for her section, while Alex Thomas won the soft-sand sprint. Kozel earned his third first-place finish in the buoy charges event with Eric Peghini winning first in line-charges immediately after. The last challenge was the breath hold, won by Lingo.

At the end of the day, the beach patrol gathered together to celebrate the inauguration of 14 new members into their family and to announce the Rookie of the Year. By a narrow margin, Milford-native Lingo placed highest, and he and his brother Jordan became the third pair of brothers in the history of the Rehoboth Beach Patrol to win the award, joining Danny and Ryan MacLeish and Caleb and Wayde Marsh. Mike Kane was runner-up while Kozel and Dale Clemons tied for third overall.