Courtesy: United States Lifesaving Association (USLA)
Sixteen rising stars in surf lifesaving sport have been named to the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) Youth National Team to compete at the 2025 International Surf Rescue Challenge to be held at Mount Maunganui Beach, New Zealand.
The athletes earned their places after excelling at the 2025 USLA National Championships held in tremendous surf at Huntington State Beach, CA, in August. They will travel around the world to take on Youth National Teams from Australia, Germany, Japan, South Africa, Spain, and host New Zealand. The competition takes place over three days, with athletes competing in a variety of events meant to mimic lifesaving skills. Youth National Teams consist of the best Lifeguards and Junior Lifeguards from their respective nations under nineteen years old.
Only two of the US athletes competed in the 2024 Lifesaving World Championships held in Australia last fall. Ellie Barrows (Monmouth County) and Liam Knight (Hampton Lifeguard Assoc) will use their experience to guide their teammates through three full days of grueling international competition. Joining Liam on the boys’ team are twin ‘beachies’ Kolbe and Kyle Green from Sussex County who finished 1-2 in the Beach Flag competitions and 3rd and 1st in the Beach Sprint. Colin Stueber (Jones Beach) and Dylan Zucker (Hampton Lifeguard Assoc) are the premiere swimmers of the group. Harrison Alty (LA County), Thomas Rocher (Cal State), Bodie Addison (LA County) and Knight are all craft specialists.
Joining Barrows on the girls’ team are beach specialists Hayden Mandell (Santa Cruz) and Gemma Garbuio (Hampton Lifeguard Assoc). Miki D’Adamo (LA County) and Daisy Pitches (Hampton Lifeguard Assoc) are the top swimmers, Cheryl Brightfield (Capitola) and Finley Dobkin (Santa Cruz) are Board Race pros, and Finley Murphy (Cal State) will lead on the Surfski. Murphy, D’Adamo, and Barrows also conquered the Ironwoman race in truly epic surf at Nationals.
Congratulations and good luck to the USLA Surf Lifesaving Youth National Team. To learn more about the team and ways to support them, please go to USLA.org/TeamUSA.
