Christian Wheeler didn’t need to pull off the big finish a la Matt Sheplin in last year’s Long Beach Township Beach Patrol Mayor’s Cup tournament. But a victory in what turned out to be the final event of this year’s intra-squad tourney certainly wasn’t going to hurt the Loveladies-North Beach crew.

“I heard whispers that this was an important race,” said Wheeler, who finally caught her breath after winning the grueling Ironwoman event on July 28 to give the North End the Mayor’s Cup trophy for…