HUNTINGTON BEACH FIRE JUNIOR LIFEGUARD PROGRAM

Eric McCoy

Marine Safety Division Chief

Years in Fire:  15 Years in Suppression, 10 years in Marine Safety

Education: M.S. Organizational Leadership

Hobbies: Surfing, Camping, spending time with Family

Who is your favorite instructor?: Ms. Bayer (Retired)

What are your goals in life?: Continue to serve the men and women of the HBFD and our community

If you were an animal what would you be?: Dolphin

Doug Leach

Battalion Chief

Years as a Lifeguard:  22

Education: BA Liberal Studies, CSULB

Hobbies: Spending time with the family and mountain biking.

Who is your favorite instructor?: Gordon Duff

What are your goals in life?: To make each day count!

If you were an animal what would you be?: Wolf

Sterling Foxcroft

Marine Safety Captain

Years as a Lifeguard:  13

Education: Bachelor Fine Arts

Hobbies: Surfing, Camping, Traveling

Who is your favorite instructor?: Sierra Page, Mr. Shanley

What are your goals in life?: More Barrels

If you were an animal what would you be?: Fox

Mike Eich

Program Coordinator

Years as a instructor: 50

Years as a Lifeguard: 50 

Education: Art Teacher at Fountain Valley High School 

Hobbies: Art and Swimming

Who is your favorite instructor?: Gem McAdams

What are your goals in life?: to get a dog 

If you were an animal what would you be?: Salt Water Wolverine 

Greg Luttrell

Co-Assistant Coordinator

Years as a instructor: 34

Years as a Lifeguard:  28

Education: Bachelors Degree- UCSB; Masters in Curriculum and Instruction- Concordia University- Irvine

Hobbies: Travelling. Spending time with my family. Swimming and SUP (stand-up paddling).

Who is your favorite instructor?: Kathy Utley (retired)

What are your goals in life?: To travel a lot more and experience the world.

If you were an animal what would you be?: Orca

Kyle Morita

Co-Assistant Coordinator

Years as a instructor: 27

Years as a Lifeguard:  33

Education: BA - UCSD, Masters - National University

Hobbies: Surfing, Snowboarding, Skiing, Soccer (watching now), Reading

Who is your favorite instructor?: Mr. Duehring

What are your goals in life?:To take care of my family and give Lakey the best junior guard experience ever and to S T R E T C H.

If you were an animal what would you be?: Tiger Shark

Amy Peterson

Administrative Assistant

Years as building manager: 2

Education: Attending USC

Goals: To survive all the parent questions this summer!

Hobbies: I like to surf, eat burritos, and go to the beach with Miss. Page

If you were an animal what would you be?: Mermaid

Who is your favorite instructor?: Miss. Jaspers and Mrs. Dieterman

David Wagner

A Group Leader- Safety Aides Instructor

Years as a instructor: Way too Long 

Years as a Lifeguard: A Century  

Education: Life 

Hobbies: Going to Central America and being a dad 

Who is your favorite instructor?: Myself 

What are your goals in life?: Scored 11 goals 

If you were an animal what would you be?: a Pug

Samantha Dieterman

PIO - Captains Instructor

Years as a lifeguard: Since 1988

Years as an instructor: Since 1992

Education: Chapman University B.A. Communications, Public Relations, Cypress College, General Education

Goals: Raise my sons to do what they love and love what they do.

Hannah Gergen

A Instructor

Years as a instructor: 3

Years as a Lifeguard:  7

Education: Currently finishing up my bachelors degree in English Education

Hobbies: Spending time with my friends and family.

Who is your favorite instructor?: Mrs. Dieterman 

What are your goals in life?: Make it through college and see where I get taken after that!

If you were an animal what would you be?: I always thought ducks were kind of sick.

Chapin Page

A Instructor

Years as a instructor: 3

Years as a Lifeguard:  4

Education: Attending college

Hobbies: Hiking, surfing, and snowboarding

Who is your favorite instructor?: Mr. Martin 

What are your goals in life?: To live a fulfilling life

If you were an animal what would you be?: A Hawk

Riley Jolley 

A/Sand Crabs Instructor

Years as a instructor: 1

Years as a Lifeguard:  4

Education: Attending UCSD

Hobbies: I enjoy snowboarding in the winter, off-roading in the desert with friends and spending time at the beach bodysurfing.

Who is your favorite instructor?: Mrs. Dieterman

What are your goals in life?: I plan on traveling after college and work on becoming a firefighter.

If you were an animal what would you be?: A Blue Tang named Dory

Kate Dixon

A/C Instructor

Years as a instructor: 1

Years as a Lifeguard:  2

Education: Just graduated from USC with a B.S. in Human Biology!

Hobbies: Surfing, road tripping, reading, making music

Who is your favorite instructor?: I actually went through LA County JG's, so all of the HB Instructors are my favorites so far :)

What are your goals in life?: Hopefully to go to med school and become an ER physician or trauma surgeon, but still finding work in the field for that first responder adrenaline rush

If you were an animal what would you be?: Definitely a quokka - the smiliest animal in Australia

Samuel Stepanian

A/C Instructor

Years as a instructor: 3

Years as a Lifeguard:  5

Education: Attending Cal State Long Beach In the fall

Hobbies: Driving swimming lifting etc. etc.

Who is your favorite instructor?: Mr.Coleman for not letting his height disadvantage keep him down in life metaphorically speaking.

What are your goals in life?: local domination to regional domination and finally global domination.

If you were an animal what would you be?: A chimpanzee as we are very genetically similar

Remy Bray 

A/C Instructor

Years as a instructor: 10

Years as a Lifeguard:  12

Education: I have a Degree in Fire Science from Santa Ana College

Hobbies: I favorite hobbies are playing golf, playing board games with friends and destroying Mr. Miller and any and all competitions.

Who is your favorite instructor?: Mr. West because he has a bionic arm that is super strong but he has to a long sleeve so it doesn’t short circuit from the cold.

What are your goals in life?: My Goal is to be hired as a firefighter paramedic for Huntington Beach

If you were an animal what would you be?: A Ocelot

Logan Miller

B Group Leader

Years as a instructor: It was my understanding that there would be no math.

Years as a Lifeguard:  1.1 Decades

Education: Trial and Error

Hobbies: Surfing, Bodysurfing, Running, Riding Motorcycles, Golf, Hiking, Chess, Reading, Tanning, Spelunking, Urban Exploration

Who is your favorite instructor?: Mr. Shively

What are your goals in life?: To become the world's first certified Netflix Sommelier

If you were an animal what would you be?: Octopus

Sierra Page

B Group Leader

Years as a instructor: 5

Years as a Lifeguard:  8

Education: CSULB Business Marketing Degree 

Hobbies: Surfing, Running, Hiking, Camping, HGTV, Drawing and going to the beach with Amy. 

Who is your favorite instructor?: Error 404: Answer not found

What are your goals in life?: To move to Alaska and become a professional Baby Walrus Cuddler

If you were an animal what would you be?: Golden Retriever

Nathan Bradbury

B Instructor

Years as a instructor: 1

Years as a Lifeguard:  2

Education:  Graduated Edison High School

Hobbies: Surfing, pushing mongo, Road trips

Who is your favorite instructor?:   Mr. Ryder because I’m friends with his brother

What are your goals in life?:  Graduate college and become a FireFighter

If you were an animal what would you be?:  A gorilla

Maddie Camargo

B Instructor

Years as a instructor: 4

Years as a Lifeguard:  6

Education:  Studying Marine Science at CSU Monterey Bay with a concentration in underwater research done on scuba

Hobbies: Surfing

Who is your favorite instructor?:  Mr. Wagner 

What are your goals in life?: I would like to find myself on a research boat with a scuba research team.

If you were an animal what would you be?: A shark 

Amelia Garrard

B Instructor

Years as a instructor: 1

Years as a Lifeguard:  3

Education: Currently getting my Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at the University of Oregon

Hobbies: Exploring, hiking, music listening, vinyl collecting

Who is your favorite instructor?: Miss. Page

What are your goals in life?: To be kind, compassionate, and loving human being!

If you were an animal what would you be?: Sea Turtle

Devin Hughes

B Instructor

Years as a instructor: 3

Years as a Lifeguard:  5

Education: 3rd year at UCI

Hobbies: Radio DJ for my college

Who is your favorite instructor?: Mr. Fullbright 

What are your goals in life?: Peace and friendship!

If you were an animal what would you be?: House Cat

Caden Martin

B Instructor

Years as a instructor: 2

Years as a Lifeguard:  4

Education: Attending Orange Coast College

Hobbies: Camping, waterpolo, pottery, dirt biking, surfing with my friends.

Who is your favorite instructor?: 100% has to be Mr. Page

What are your goals in life?: To sail around the world on someone else's expense

If you were an animal what would you be?: Giant pacific octopus

Vincent Matos

B Instructor

Years as a instructor: 3

Years as a Lifeguard:  1

Education:  University of Utah for business management and political science

Hobbies: Backpacking, skiing, bodysurfing, and cooking

Who is your favorite instructor?:   Mrs. Utley

What are your goals in life?: To become a firefighter/paramedic for Huntington Beach Fire

If you were an animal what would you be?:  

Hudson Taylor

B Instructor

Years as a instructor: 1

Years as a Lifeguard:  3

Education:  Cal State Long Beach

Hobbies: Off-Roading, Skiing, Surfing, Hiking, Photography

Who is your favorite instructor?:   Mr. Wagner

What are your goals in life?: Discover something new

If you were an animal what would you be?:  Sea Dragon 

Saxon Varon

B/C Instructor

Years as a instructor: 1

Years as a Lifeguard:  3

Education: Currently working on my bachelor of science at the university of oregon with a major in business and a minor in psychology

Hobbies: Bodysurfing and surfing

Who is your favorite instructor?: Mr. McGowan

What are your goals in life?: My goal in life is to be able to succeed in my career whatever I may end up doing while also being able to help others around me and giving back to the community I am apart of

If you were an animal what would you be?: Dolphin

Dustin Voorhees

B Instructor

Years as a instructor: 1

Years as a Lifeguard:  3

Education: Cal state San Marcos

Hobbies: Surfing and fishing

Who is your favorite instructor?: Mr. Seaberry

What are your goals in life?: To travel the world

If you were an animal what would you be?: Bald Eagle

Ryan Camps

C Group Leader

Years as a instructor: 10

Years as a Lifeguard:  14

Education: BA History

Hobbies: Running, skiing, watching sports

Who is your favorite instructor?: Mr. Bush

What are your goals in life?:Continue to teach and coach students, while traveling and being an athlete.

If you were an animal what would you be?: Blue Whale

Sean Richards

C Group Leader

Years as a instructor: 6

Years as a Lifeguard:  14

Education: Post Graduate

Hobbies:  Soccer, Surfing, Snowboarding, and Golf. I need some less expensive hobbies.

 Who is your favorite instructor?: Ms. Jaspers... TRUST FALL!

What are your goals in life?: Keep Learning, continue to practice self care, and promote mindfulness

If you were an animal what would you be?: Dolphin, Have you seen them body surf? Not to mention echo location!

Kristin Adams

C Instructor

Years as a instructor: 2

Years as a Lifeguard:  4

Education:  CU Boulder 

Hobbies: When I'm not skiing Breckenridge, I'm probably laying out on the deck of one of my boyfriend's boats in Bermuda. I love to keep things simple. 

Who is your favorite instructor?:  Mrs. Zellmer

What are your goals in life?: Attend Law School in the UK and then split my time between the Caribbean and Colorado.

If you were an animal what would you be?: A Standard Poodle

Jacob Bailey

C/ Sand Crab Instructor

Years as a instructor: 1

Years as a Lifeguard:  3

Education:  Edison High School graduate and will be attending Biola in the fall

Hobbies: swimming, bodysurfing, cooking, weightlifting

Who is your favorite instructor?:   Miss. Jaspers

What are your goals in life?: Use my degree in Sports Medicine to help athletes recover from injuries and be supportive of others around me

If you were an animal what would you be?:  Salt Water Wolverine 

Keegan Coleman

C Instructor

Years as a instructor: 3

Years as a Lifeguard: 5 

Education: Graduating with a philosophy, politics, economics BA from Pitzer College this fall

Hobbies: Having boardgame game nights with the other instructors.

Who is your favorite instructor?: Mr. Camps, for inspiring me to become an even more elite athlete than he is.

What are your goals in life?: To get a late growth-spurt and become taller than Mr. Stepanian.

If you were an animal what would you be?: A sea otter

Rachel Drapp

C Instructor

Years as a instructor: 1

Years as a Lifeguard:  2

Education:  Attending College

Hobbies: Being with friends and family

Who is your favorite instructor?:   Not Sure

What are your goals in life?: To make a positive impact

If you were an animal what would you be?:  Sea Turtle

Dylan Honrath

C Instructor

Years as a instructor: 3

Years as a Lifeguard:  1

Education:  Finished my sophomore year at Golden West

Hobbies: Backpacking, Surfing, Traveling, and Snowboarding

Who is your favorite instructor?:   Mr. Camps

What are your goals in life?: To enjoy life and become comfortably successful

If you were an animal what would you be?:  a Horse

Ella Jensen

C Instructor

Years as a instructor: 1

Years as a Lifeguard:  2

Education:  Edison High School

Hobbies: Swimming, Water Polo, Driving my dad's truck, Being aloof.

Who is your favorite instructor?:  Mrs. Dieterman 

What are your goals in life?: To get my own Tacoma TRD Pro

If you were an animal what would you be?:  A Burmese Mountain Dog

Nicky Lagana

C Instructor

Years as a instructor: 2

Years as a Lifeguard:  4

Education: Studying Mechanical Engineering at California Baptist University

Hobbies: I like to wander the Earth with friends, watch movies, and work on the SAE team formula one race car.

Who is your favorite instructor?: Mrs. Dieterman 

What are your goals in life?:To be the next Dread Pirate Roberts.

If you were an animal what would you be?: Dolphin

Finn Ryder

C Instructor

Years as a instructor: 2

Years as a Lifeguard:  3

Education: Currently majoring in Finance at Point Loma Nazarene University

Hobbies: Surfing, guitar, hiking, going to the beach

Who is your favorite instructor?:  Mr. Brehm 

What are your goals in life?: To grow a better mustache than Mr. West

If you were an animal what would you be?: Sea Turtle

Ben Seaberry

C/Sandcrab Instructor

Years as a instructor: 2

Years as a Lifeguard:  4

Education: Attending Cal Poly Slo

Hobbies: Hanging out with Mr. West

Who is your favorite instructor?: Mr. West 

What are your goals in life?: To be able to Hangout with Mr. West

If you were an animal what would you be?: A Poodle

Jeff West

C/ Sandcrab Instructor

Years as a instructor: 6

Years as a Lifeguard:  4

Education: Attending Cuesta college

Hobbies: Surfing, skateboarding, playing music

Who is your favorite instructor?: Mr. Brehm

What are your goals in life?: Do as many cool things as possible

If you were an animal what would you be?: Air Bud

Tony Morelli

Sand Crab Group Leader

Years as a instructor: Enough to be the best

Years as a Lifeguard:  10

Education: BA in Communications and a certified BA in life 

Hobbies: Needle point, Scrapbooking, Antiquing on the weekends with my girlfriend, and surfing every once in a while

Who is your favorite instructor?: Myself   

What are your goals in life?: To own and operate my own yoga/artist retreat in the desert near Joshua Tree.

If you were an animal what would you be?: A Galapagos Giant Tortoise

Taylor Bartlett

Sand Crab / C Instructor

Years as a instructor: 3

Years as a Lifeguard:  4

Education: Milligan University

Hobbies: going to concerts, swimming, hiking, spending time with friends 

Who is your favorite instructor?: Ms. Page

What are your goals in life?: To become a travel nurse and own multiple houses

If you were an animal what would you be?: Sea Otter

Riley Boehm

Sand Crab/C Instructor

Years as a instructor: 1

Years as a Lifeguard:  2

Education:  Always reaching higher!

Hobbies: Anything ocean related, traveling, camping, spin, snowboarding, and having fun!

Who is your favorite instructor?:   All the instructors I've had (Plus Miss. Page)

What are your goals in life?: To travel more, radiate positivity wherever I go, and to love my job enough that it will never feel like I am working!

If you were an animal what would you be?:  100% a Golden Doodle 

Dane Howell

Sand Crab/C Instructor

Years as a instructor: 1

Years as a Lifeguard:  3

Education:  Attending Orange Coast College

Hobbies: Water Polo, surfing, going on adventures, getting carried by my team in rec league basketball, going to the gym

Who is your favorite instructor?:   Mr. Page

What are your goals in life?: To get more barrels than Mr. Page. To throw an air over Mr. Martin. To win a national washers tournament with Ms. Jaspers. To beat Mr. Miller in Dodgeball and/or (preferably “and”) Bocce Ball.

If you were an animal what would you be?:  I would be a wolf because of my “Howell”.

Josh Terry

Sand Crab/ C Instructor

Years as a instructor: 2

Years as a Lifeguard:  4

Education:  Attending UCLA for a BA in political science

Hobbies: Surfing, camping, hiking, golf, fishing.

Who is your favorite instructor?:   Mr. Eich

What are your goals in life?: To create meaning and find and fulfill my telos

If you were an animal what would you be?:  A Chimp