MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine senior Haley Wilson placed eighth in an open water 1,000-meter race during Los Angeles County lifeguard tryouts last Saturday in Santa Monica.

Approximately 240 male and female competitors entered the Pacific Ocean race, but only half of them, including Wilson (Carpinteria, Calif./Santa Barbara HS), finished the course in less than 20 minutes and earned an interview. Of the top eight finishers, four were women.

Wilson’s time was clocked around 17 minutes, which was made even more impressive considering she couldn’t wear a wet suit or goggles and had difficulty navigating the mid-morning fog.

 

“The water wasn’t as cold as it could have been, but the fog was really thick, so it was difficult to see the buoys,” Wilson said. “Because I couldn’t see the buoys I ended up swimming more then I needed to because I didn’t swim a straight line.”

 

Wilson considered the interview a success and her next steps to becoming a lifeguard include a background check and physical followed by four weeks of rookie school.

 

For 10 hours each day of every weekend next May, Wilson and others will be doing their very best to pass a number of physical and written tests or face the reality of being cut. Wilson knows this is going to be a big commitment, but believes the personal and financial rewards are well worth the sacrifice.

 

L.A. County lifeguards can make as much as $23 per hour.

 

“Yeah, I’m nervous (about rookie school), but I think I’ll do well,” Wilson said. “For me, this is more than just about becoming a lifeguard; it’s a great chance for me to get further involved with the community.”

 

An integrated marketing and communications major, Wilson hopes to attend graduate school at Pepperdine through the Graziadio School of Business and Management. And while she doesn’t see lifeguarding as a full-time profession, Wilson believes she’ll be involved for a long time.

 

Wilson and the Pepperdine Waves’ swimming and diving team begin their 2008-09 season the weekend of Oct. 10 and 11 at UC Riverside for the PCSC Pentathlon and relay meets.