All-girls lifeguard competition sees record turnout
Delaware State Parks wins four events, led by Elizabeth Fry
Middlesex Beach Patrol hosted an all-women lifeguard competition June 25 that saw a record number of participants. Shown is the start of the distance paddle event, won by Delaware State Park Beach Patrol alum Elizabeth Fry, second from right. AARON R. MUSHRUSH PHOTOS
The women enter the drink.
Delaware State Park Beach Patrol alum Elizabeth Fry won the Iron Woman and distance paddle event.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Sophia Filipowski heads in to finish the distance paddle at the finish line.
Dewey Beach Patrol's Haley Gamuciello finishes the run-swim-run event.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Rayne Sheats catches the camera, capturing her finish.
The competitors get ready for the distance swim.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Rowan O'Donoghue heads to the finish line after battling in the distance swim.
Dewey Beach Patrol's Amara Fruchtman leads a pack of runners in the distance run.
Delaware State Park Beach Patrol alum Elizabeth Fry cruises into first on top of a wave.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Rayne Sheats splashes down for a flag.
Dewey Bach Patrol's Amara Fruchtman cracks a smile as she dives for a flag.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Sophia Filipowski explodes toward the flags.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Sophia Filiposki safely collects a flag.
Delaware State Park's Zoe Williams is the first to a flag in the semifinals.
Delaware State Park's Zoe Williams wins the flags final.
Dewey Beach Patrol's Haley Gamuciello pulls in the tug-of-war.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Allie D'Angelo looks up during one of the semifinals.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Grace Neal tries to get some leverage.
Delaware State Parks Zoey Neufeld, second from left, and Isla Touw look over to their teammates Maci Cunane, second from right, and Kenzie Gorman before the distance swim as Rowan O'Donoghue gets settled in the middle.
Delaware State Park's Maura Lenhart, left, gets ready for the distance run with Mackey Donovan, center, and a pumped-up Ellie Keck.
Delaware State Park's Anna Bockius leads the way in the distance run she won, with Mackey Donovan close behind.
Delaware State Park's Maura Lenhart strides forward on the soft sand.
Delaware State Park's Ellie Keck, left, and Elizabeth Melson approach the halfway point in the distance run.
Delaware State Park's Morgan Johnson emerges from the drink in the distance paddle.
Delaware State Park's Zoe Neufeld finishes up the run-swim-run.
Delaware State Park's Nina Criniti punches her ticket to the next round.
Delaware State Park's Helena Nester casually scoops the flag.
Delaware State Park's Abbey Kantzler was a late entry, but showed she belonged.
Delaware State Park's Abbey Kantzler stays cool in the tug-of-war.
Delaware State Park's Lexi Planinsek anchors the line with Morgan Johnson ahead of her.
Lewes Beach Patrol's Marlise Harris, left, bursts out of her stance in the flags against Zoe Williams and Abby Kantzler.
Dewey Beach Patrol's Ally Diehl, left, holds the line with Caitlin St. Leger in the squad's first round win.
Dewey Beach Patrol's Ashling Marshall, left, races against her co-worker Amara Fruchtman, center, to the flags.
North Shores lifeguards Ava Ripanti, front, and Ellie Miller compete in the tug-of-war.
North Shore's Liz Perry put down the camera to help her team in the tug-of-war.
North Shore's Natalie Schneider's effort included a smile.June 29, 2026
Event Date:
Middlesex Beach Patrol hosted an all-women lifeguard competition June 25 that saw a record number of participants. Shown is the start of the distance paddle event, won by Delaware State Park Beach Patrol alum Elizabeth Fry, second from right. AARON R. MUSHRUSH PHOTOS
The women enter the drink.
Delaware State Park Beach Patrol alum Elizabeth Fry won the Iron Woman and distance paddle event.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Sophia Filipowski heads in to finish the distance paddle at the finish line.
Dewey Beach Patrol's Haley Gamuciello finishes the run-swim-run event.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Rayne Sheats catches the camera, capturing her finish.
The competitors get ready for the distance swim.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Rowan O'Donoghue heads to the finish line after battling in the distance swim.
Dewey Beach Patrol's Amara Fruchtman leads a pack of runners in the distance run.
Delaware State Park Beach Patrol alum Elizabeth Fry cruises into first on top of a wave.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Rayne Sheats splashes down for a flag.
Dewey Bach Patrol's Amara Fruchtman cracks a smile as she dives for a flag.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Sophia Filipowski explodes toward the flags.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Sophia Filiposki safely collects a flag.
Delaware State Park's Zoe Williams is the first to a flag in the semifinals.
Delaware State Park's Zoe Williams wins the flags final.
Dewey Beach Patrol's Haley Gamuciello pulls in the tug-of-war.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Allie D'Angelo looks up during one of the semifinals.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Grace Neal tries to get some leverage.
Delaware State Parks Zoey Neufeld, second from left, and Isla Touw look over to their teammates Maci Cunane, second from right, and Kenzie Gorman before the distance swim as Rowan O'Donoghue gets settled in the middle.
Delaware State Park's Maura Lenhart, left, gets ready for the distance run with Mackey Donovan, center, and a pumped-up Ellie Keck.
Delaware State Park's Anna Bockius leads the way in the distance run she won, with Mackey Donovan close behind.
Delaware State Park's Maura Lenhart strides forward on the soft sand.
Delaware State Park's Ellie Keck, left, and Elizabeth Melson approach the halfway point in the distance run.
Delaware State Park's Morgan Johnson emerges from the drink in the distance paddle.
Delaware State Park's Zoe Neufeld finishes up the run-swim-run.
Delaware State Park's Nina Criniti punches her ticket to the next round.
Delaware State Park's Helena Nester casually scoops the flag.
Delaware State Park's Abbey Kantzler was a late entry, but showed she belonged.
Delaware State Park's Abbey Kantzler stays cool in the tug-of-war.
Delaware State Park's Lexi Planinsek anchors the line with Morgan Johnson ahead of her.
Lewes Beach Patrol's Marlise Harris, left, bursts out of her stance in the flags against Zoe Williams and Abby Kantzler.
Dewey Beach Patrol's Ally Diehl, left, holds the line with Caitlin St. Leger in the squad's first round win.
Dewey Beach Patrol's Ashling Marshall, left, races against her co-worker Amara Fruchtman, center, to the flags.
North Shores lifeguards Ava Ripanti, front, and Ellie Miller compete in the tug-of-war.
North Shore's Liz Perry put down the camera to help her team in the tug-of-war.
North Shore's Natalie Schneider's effort included a smile.
As women’s sports continue to grow across the country, so do the numbers of women in lifeguarding, particularly in southern Delaware.
Look no further than the June 25 all-female lifeguarding competition hosted by Middlesex Beach Patrol on a picture-perfect evening at the private beach in North Bethany. MBP Chair Mark McCulloh’s patrol has been hosting the event for a few years, but he said the 2026 rendition saw by far the most participants, reflecting the emergence of women, both in number and leadership, for local lifeguard units.
Delaware State Parks placed first in four of the competitions, with Elizabeth Fry winning the Iron Woman and distance paddle event. Her co-workers Anna Bockius and Zoe Williams took the mile run and flags, respectively.
North Bethany’s Katelyn Fitzgerald finished first in the distance swim, and Bethany Beach Patrol’s Morgan Glass broke through in the run-swim-run. In the final event of the day, members of Dewey Beach Patrol found themselves pitted against Ocean City Beach Patrol in the tug-of-war. The ladies gave it their best shot, but the Maryland squad managed to pull through and collect the win.
Middlesex Beach Patrol hosted an all-women lifeguard competition June 25 that saw a record number of participants. Shown is the start of the distance paddle event, won by Delaware State Park Beach Patrol alum Elizabeth Fry, second from right. AARON R. MUSHRUSH PHOTOS
The women enter the drink.
Delaware State Park Beach Patrol alum Elizabeth Fry won the Iron Woman and distance paddle event.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Sophia Filipowski heads in to finish the distance paddle at the finish line.
Dewey Beach Patrol's Haley Gamuciello finishes the run-swim-run event.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Rayne Sheats catches the camera, capturing her finish.
The competitors get ready for the distance swim.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Rowan O'Donoghue heads to the finish line after battling in the distance swim.
Dewey Beach Patrol's Amara Fruchtman leads a pack of runners in the distance run.
Delaware State Park Beach Patrol alum Elizabeth Fry cruises into first on top of a wave.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Rayne Sheats splashes down for a flag.
Dewey Bach Patrol's Amara Fruchtman cracks a smile as she dives for a flag.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Sophia Filipowski explodes toward the flags.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Sophia Filiposki safely collects a flag.
Delaware State Park's Zoe Williams is the first to a flag in the semifinals.
Delaware State Park's Zoe Williams wins the flags final.
Dewey Beach Patrol's Haley Gamuciello pulls in the tug-of-war.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Allie D'Angelo looks up during one of the semifinals.
Rehoboth Beach Patrol's Grace Neal tries to get some leverage.
Delaware State Parks Zoey Neufeld, second from left, and Isla Touw look over to their teammates Maci Cunane, second from right, and Kenzie Gorman before the distance swim as Rowan O'Donoghue gets settled in the middle.
Delaware State Park's Maura Lenhart, left, gets ready for the distance run with Mackey Donovan, center, and a pumped-up Ellie Keck.
Delaware State Park's Anna Bockius leads the way in the distance run she won, with Mackey Donovan close behind.
Delaware State Park's Maura Lenhart strides forward on the soft sand.
Delaware State Park's Ellie Keck, left, and Elizabeth Melson approach the halfway point in the distance run.
Delaware State Park's Morgan Johnson emerges from the drink in the distance paddle.
Delaware State Park's Zoe Neufeld finishes up the run-swim-run.
Delaware State Park's Nina Criniti punches her ticket to the next round.
Delaware State Park's Helena Nester casually scoops the flag.
Delaware State Park's Abbey Kantzler was a late entry, but showed she belonged.
Delaware State Park's Abbey Kantzler stays cool in the tug-of-war.
Delaware State Park's Lexi Planinsek anchors the line with Morgan Johnson ahead of her.
Lewes Beach Patrol's Marlise Harris, left, bursts out of her stance in the flags against Zoe Williams and Abby Kantzler.
Dewey Beach Patrol's Ally Diehl, left, holds the line with Caitlin St. Leger in the squad's first round win.
Dewey Beach Patrol's Ashling Marshall, left, races against her co-worker Amara Fruchtman, center, to the flags.
North Shores lifeguards Ava Ripanti, front, and Ellie Miller compete in the tug-of-war.
North Shore's Liz Perry put down the camera to help her team in the tug-of-war.
North Shore's Natalie Schneider's effort included a smile.Event Details :
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