The USLA is proud to announce the 12 athletes selected to represent the US Open National Team at the Lifesaving World Championships 2026 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
View the youth National Team Announcement, below.
The team consists of six female and six male athletes selected to represent the United States at the 2026 Lifesaving World Championships (LWC) in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. These athletes represent the nation’s top competitors in surf lifesaving and have demonstrated the athletic ability, versatility, and commitment required to compete at the international level.
The women’s team brings significant international experience to the roster.
Coral Kemp (LA County) first raced internationally in 2012 and 2013 at the Sanyo Bussan Lifesaving Cup in Japan and then the 2014 LWC in France. Coral earned four of five medals with her paddleboard at the 2026 USLA National Championships.
Samantha Tadder (Virginia Beach) earns her fourth USLA National Team selection having competed in the International Surf Rescue Championship (ISRC) in 2023 (Texas) and 2025 (New Zealand) as well as the 2024 LWC in Australia. Sam is a swim specialist who will make an impact in the pool and the ocean.
Swimming alongside or on relays is Montana George (Cal State). Montana claimed two silver medals in the swim and run-swim-run at the 2026 USLA National Championships. Montana’s international experience mirrors Tadder’s and their familiarity will benefit the US team.
Ashlyn Roselle (Sussex County), the team’s Beachie, competed at the 2025 ISRC in New Zealand and took gold, silver, and bronze in the individual run events at the 2026 USLA National Championships.
Gwen Bencie (Boca Raton), raced to gold in five events including the individual Board and Surfski races at the 2026 USLA National Championships. This is Gwen’s second National Team selection after competing in Australia at LWC 2018, as a member of the Youth National Team.
Elizabeth Fry (Sussex County) earns her first National Team selection rounding out the women’s roster. Fry excels in the swim events and can also contribute in craft events. She medaled in the Run-Swim-Run, Surf Race, and led her team to top three finishes in three relays at this year’s National Championships.
The men’s team also features five athletes with international experience and one first time National Team selection.
Leading the way is beach specialist Konner Knarr (Sussex County) who represented the United States at ISRC in 2023 and 2025 and earned a silver medal in the 90M Beach Sprint at the 2024 LWC in Australia. Konner returned to top form at Nationals winning the Flags and 90M Sprint after a serious injury sidelined him for much of last year.
Fellow Sussex County athlete Coleman Woodard brought home five medals from this year’s National Championships with strong finishes in all open craft events and represented the US in the 2023 ISRC U19 and 2025 open ISRC.
Dylan Narcowich (Deerfield Beach) has previously competed in 2023 ISRC and 2025 ISRC. Dylan achieved top 5 finishes in 4 out of his 5 open events at the 2026 USLA National Championships.
Drew Modrov (Riis Park) competed in the 2018 LWC, 2022 LWC, and 2025 ISRC. He will be the go- to swimmer for the team who brings years of experience in both ocean and pool competitions.
Nate Humberston (Monmouth County) brings previous international experience from 2025 ISRC and a deep background of the surfski with years of Olympic kayak training.
The newcomer to the men’s team is Noah Cahan (Emerald Coast), who will add depth to the beach events giving the team extra speed in the sprint relay and potential point scoring in the Flags and Sprints.
The USLA has chosen 12 elite young lifesaving athletes to represent the US Youth National Team at the 2026 Lifesaving World Championships in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
The 2026 Youth National Team brings strength across every discipline, with proven competitors in swimming, craft, beach events, and multi-discipline racing. The roster features returning athletes with experience at the Lifesaving World Championships, International Surf Rescue Challenge, and Canadian Pool Championships alongside several first-time international competitors. Each member of the team earned their spot against a record number of competitors at the 2026 USLA National Championships.
Women
The women’s team will be led by Emily Sudol (Monmouth County) who competed at the 2024 LWC event in Australia. She is a paddling powerhouse who will be counted on in the Board Race, Board Rescue, and Taplin among other events. Finley Murphy (LA County) makes her second US Youth National Team after competing in the 2025 International Surf Rescue Challenge (ISRC) in New Zealand last year. She earned a spot by winning gold in the Ironwoman, silver in the Surfski, and bronze in the Board Race at the 2026 USLA National Championships.
One area of emphasis for the US team is to earn more points in the pool. Both Natalie Allen (Cal State) and Isla Cooper (Santa Cruz) gained valuable experience competing at the 2026 Canadian Pool Championships while excelling at the 2026 USLA National Championships. Natalie comes to the team well-rounded in swimming and craft, achieving top 10 finishes in all her events at the 2026 USLA National Championships. Isla dominated the Surfski at the 2026 USLA National Championships, taking gold in U19 and sixth in the Open division.
Rounding out the team is the speedster on the sand, Marlise Harris (Sussex County); she took gold in Beach Flags and silver in the Beach Sprint. Olivia Jacobson (LA County) won gold in the Surf Race and will be the go-to swimmer in the pool and ocean.
Men
The men’s team will be led by Harrison Alty (Cal State) who pulled off the rare double win in the Surfski competition, winning the U19 and Open competition. Alty has international experience having competed at the 2025 ISRC in New Zealand and the 2026 Canadian Pool Championships. Caetano Dawson (Santa
Cruz) will help the team on land having medaled in the Beach Sprint and Beach Flags while also securing silver in the Board Race and gold in the Board Rescue. Joining Dawson in the sprints is Jackson Napolitano (Monmouth County) who dominated in both Beach Flags and the Beach Sprint.
Thomas Rocher (Cal State) and Colin Stueber (Jones Beach) both competed at the 2025 ISRC event in New Zealand. Rocher secured a spot on the team by winning gold in the Ironman and silver in the Surfski and Board Rescue races. Stueber, who also gained valuable experience at the 2026 Canadian Pool Championships, will be the go-to swimmer for the team after dominating the Surf Race, Run-Swim-Run, and Rescue Race events in Fort Lauderdale. Nico Van der Meer (Santa Cruz) is another all-around performer who medaled in the Run-Swim-Run, Ironman, and Distance Swim, while working with teammates to win the Board Rescue and Rescue Race at the 2026 USLA National Championships.
Congratulations and good luck to the USLA Surf Lifesaving National Team. To learn more about the team and ways to support them, please go to USLA.org/TeamUSA.