Cole Pietszak made the turn from north to south around the marker, looked around and had a bit of a revelation.

“Going into this race, I was thinking I wouldn’t be last, but I also didn’t think I’d be anywhere near the top three,” said the fourth-year Harvey Cedars lifeguard, competing as part of the patrol’s B team in the host squad’s Midsummer Meltdown tournament on July 24. “I was almost even with Ryan going through the turn, and that was an awesome feeling.