Nick Graessle Medals at Junior Guard National Championships, By Jondi Gumz

LOCAL SPORTS Nick Graessle Medals at Junior Guard National Championships

By Jondi Gumz

Capitola lifeguard Nick Graessle made the most of a challenging year, earning four medals at the U.S. Lifesaving Association’s Junior Guard National Championships Aug. 4-7 in South Padre Island, Texas, and recognition as Junior Guard of the Year.

Nick, 17, entering his senior year at Soquel High School, finished second in Beach Flags, third in Ironman, Rescue Race and Ironguard in the under-19 age group.

In Beach Flags, competitors start from a prone position, rise, turn and race to grab a baton buried upright in the sand 20 meters away. Since there are always fewer batons than competitors, those who fail to snatch a baton are eliminated.

Nick got second place after three runoffs with Owen McCormac of the Hampton Lifeguard Association taking first.

“We both grabbed the same flag three times,” Nick said.

He’s looking forward to next year’s competition.

He has been involved in Junior Guards since age 6 and competing since age 9.

“It’s the best part of every summer,” he said.

Last year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the championships were cancelled, so Nick didn’t get to compete.

This year, he won the Beach Flags event at the regionals in Huntington Beach, earning a trip to nationals.

Ordinarily a team of 50 to 100 athletes from Capitola would compete in the nationals, but that wasn’t possible because of budget issues.

Nick was happy to be Capitola’s sole representative in his age group, even though his flight to Dallas was cancelled due to weather, waves in the Gulf of Mexico were not like the waves back home, and temperatures in South Padre Island were upwards of 90 every day.

“We had to do events before the sun was out – 7 a.m.,” he said. “It was cool. Everyone rallied for it.”

The pandemic is what gave him the opportunity to be named Junior Guard of the Year.

He was nominated by a lifeguard instructor.

Nick Graessle (left) edges out his opponent competing in “Beach Flags.” Because the agency was understaffed, Nick volunteered to be an instructor, putting in time and effort to help the program. “Now I’ve become an instructor,” he said. Usually that position is restricted to teens 18 and older, but Nick has skills honed with years of experience. “I like to practice my disciplines,” he said. That includes swimming, running and paddleboating.

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