A Summer Job Like No Other: Ocean City Lifeguard Tryouts Draw Big Crowd
Spirits were high among the hopeful vying for a spot on the Ocean City Beach Patrol (OCBP). With nerves buzzing, the candidates gathered for the 2025 OCBP rookie tryouts. A rite of passage for those looking to turn their love of the beach into one of the most iconic summer jobs in town.
Rookie hopefuls Nolan Roselli and David Simpson were among the eager participants. “I spend most of summer on the beach,” said Roselli, “I am excited about the opportunity to work in a place that I love.” For Simpson, it was more than just a job; it meant carrying on a family legacy. “My father was a lifeguard, and it would be cool to follow in his footsteps.”
“I expect a lot of discipline and a lot of fun,” added rookie hopeful Jack Howard. Jayma Iacoangelo of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, said she was most looking forward to meeting new people and, most importantly, helping those in need.
Ryan Nielsen, better known to his friends as “Reinstein,” summed it up simply: “It’s a great job.”
Deputy Chiefs Holly Lesser and Tony Mehalic were tasked with putting on today’s tryout. Lesser and Mehalic were rookies together 19 summers ago. Deputy Chief Lesser emphasized the extensive preparation that goes into running the event. “We had over 100 people sign up on the website, and about half showed up today,” she said. “It takes a lot of planning: loading equipment, checking the tides, assigning roles, and most importantly, making sure everyone is safe.”
Safety was top of mind this year as conditions posed an extra challenge for the prospective rookies. With a swell in the water and lingering fog, the event organizers made morning adjustments to ensure participants could be properly evaluated while staying safe.
“We had to modify the box swim slightly to account for the surf,” Mehalic explained. “Our main concern is always getting everyone through the events safely.”
The day’s tryout included a rigorous series of events designed to test both fitness and rescue-readiness:
1/2-mile run completed in under 3:45
500-meter box swim
500-meter paddle board
Surf dash
Interview with Beach Patrol leadership
It’s a challenging lineup, and that’s exactly the point. The Ocean City Beach Patrol is responsible for the lives of tens of thousands of people each day. Guards need to be more than athletes; they need to be adaptable, team-oriented, and ready to handle anything the ocean and the public throw their way. For Lesser, the formula for a great guard is simple: “We want well-rounded individuals. We look for candidates who are athletic, strong, good swimmers, good communicators, and ready to be part of the team.”
Those selected from today’s tryouts will be invited to attend rookie school. Rookie school is an incentive training program designed to prepare the new guards for the challenges that come with being an ocean lifeguard. New guards receive training in CPR and first aid, as well as hands-on situational-based training led by seasoned patrol members. Deputy Chief Mehalic and the training officers will guide them through everything they need to know before they take the stand.
If all goes well, the new guards will officially be on the sand by July 1, ready to uphold the OCBP’s proud tradition of safety and service on the beach.