By David Weinberg
Avalon rower Ryan Finnegan had a swell time at the South Jersey Lifeguard Championships Monday.
The 24-year-old hopped on a wave near the end of the singles row and powered through to win the race and give Avalon the team championship in front of a roaring crowd at Brigantine’s 17th Street beach.
“This is what it’s all about,” Finnegan said. “We’ve been locked in on winning the South Jersey’s since last year.”
Avalon scored 11 points, one better than defending champion Brigantine. Longport and Atlantic City each scored 7 points.
In addition to Finnegan, Avalon’s doubles crew of Gary Nagle and Giulian finished fourth while swimmer Alex Zoldan took second behind repeat champion Charles Schreiner of Atlantic City.
Avalon won the team title for the first time since 2015 and earned its eighth championship in the event’s 84-year history.
A huge crowd showed up at Brigantine, which was hosting the races for the first time since 1980.
The throng sat and stood 10 rows deep and stretched for three blocks at the water’s edge. Each race featured loud cheers from fans rooting for their favorite patrols.
“That’s the biggest crowd I’ve ever been around for a race,” said Brigantine’s Joe Savell, who teamed with brother Jack to win the doubles row for the second straight year. “It meant a lot to us to be competing on our beaches. After winning last year, there was a lot of hope coming into this one.”
The Savell brothers gave the hometown fans plenty to cheer about in the opening event.
They charged to an early lead and steadily widened the gap en route to an impressive win. They finished in 15 minutes, 9 seconds. Longport’s Sean Duffey and Mike McGrath took second in 15:39, one second ahead of Margate’s Bob Bechtel and Chris Spiers.
Last year, the Savells became the first doubles crew from Brigantine to win the South Jerseys since Mike Sluzenski and Rick Dove in 1979.
“It’s always a great feeling to win this,” Joe Savell said. “But it feels even better to win it here.”
Schreiner, 18, also earned a convincing victory in the swim.
The 2024 Egg Harbor Township High School graduate – he’ll be attending Boston University – emerged from the surf about 50 yards farther north from his competitors, but was so far in front that he had no trouble taking the race for the second straight year.
He finished in 14:12. Avalon’s Zoldan was second in 14:20 while Margate’s Zach Vasser took third in 14:24. Schreiner is Atlantic City’s first South Jersey swim champion since John Kenney won five straight in 1998-2002.
“This is definitely a weight lifted off my shoulders,” Schreiner said. “This race has been circled on my calendar since I won it last year.”
Avalon, Brigantine and Margate were all tied for first place after two events with 6 points apiece, which added to the excitement and tension for the singles row.
The cheers grew louder as Finnegan and defending singles champ Jack Savell rowed toward shore, virtually matching each other stroke for stroke.
Finnegan owned a slight lead with about 50 yards remaining and held off Savell’s charge to win. Finnegan crossed in 6:25 to beat Savell by 2 seconds.
Finnegan’s fellow lifeguards charged into the water while chanting, “ABP! ABP!” They surrounded his boat, lifting it onto their collective shoulders while Finnegan stood and raised his arms in celebration.
He became Avalon’s first singles champion since Erich Wolf in 2017.
“Winning South Jerseys is all we’ve been talking about since before Memorial Day,” Finnegan said. “And we did it.”
Local NFL update
Egg Harbor Township graduate Yvondy Rigby delivered a solid performance for the Baltimore Ravens last week.
Rigby, a linebacker who signed with the Ravens as an undrafted rookie free agent, registered seven tackles in the Ravens’ 16-13 preseason loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Bo Melton (Cedar Creek) caught one pass for 12 yards in a 23-10 preseason win over Cleveland.
David is a nationally recognized sports columnist who has covered Philadelphia and local sports for over 40 years. After 35 years with The Press, he has served as a columnist for 973ESPN.com and created his own Facebook page, Dave Weinberg Extra Points.
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