{"id":7028,"date":"2026-08-06T11:00:06","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T11:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=7028"},"modified":"2026-08-06T11:00:06","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T11:00:06","slug":"virginia-teens-at-golf-tryouts-rescue-family-from-drowning-and-then-make-squad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=7028","title":{"rendered":"Virginia teens at golf tryouts rescue family from drowning and then make squad"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-14sl0e4\">\n<div class=\"dcr-17l77cs\">\n<figure id=\"ce5f8446-d50f-485c-889c-d81ad963873d\" class=\"dcr-191xnya\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Three teenage boys smile on a golf course\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/5df58ca87d17ebe11dc7d2589161844bafa12907\/0_0_1526_1048\/master\/1526.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"319.34469200524245\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><span class=\"dcr-kogzpx\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-18mnkpm\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1294qmb\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-4sl2vt\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1mfxiaj\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">From left: Gavin Cain, Andrew Tuggle and Jackson Castro.<\/span> Photograph: Culpeper police department<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"ce5f8446-d50f-485c-889c-d81ad963873d\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-qda0hp\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1e9iiy9\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">From left: Gavin Cain, Andrew Tuggle and Jackson Castro.<\/span> Photograph: Culpeper police department<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-ql9l8l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6mja0y\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-l0wuod\">Virginia teens at golf tryouts rescue family from drowning and then make squad<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1xpojbf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1gm5ptv\">\n<p>Gavin Cain, Andrew Tuggle and Jackson Castro were at golf team tryouts when they heard screams from nearby lake<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-x1al2c\">\n<div class=\"dcr-11gq2tx\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-1w2vkyc\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-ogvvui\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">A trio of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/virginia\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Virginia<\/a> teenagers recently showed up to golf team tryouts, jumped into a nearby lake to rescue three people \u2013 including a preschooler who couldn\u2019t swim \u2013 after their kayaks capsized, and then earned spots on the squad, according to officials who are hailing their actions as \u201cheroic\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In events that authorities say demonstrate the kind of leadership that young people are capable of, Andrew Tuggle, 15, and 17-year-olds Gavin Cain and Jackson Castro showed up to the Culpeper Country Club links on the afternoon of 27 July to compete for places on Eastern View high school\u2019s golf team, the local police department <a href=\"https:\/\/crimewatch.net\/us\/va\/culpeper-county\/culpeper-pd\/117322\/post\/three-culpeper-teens-hailed-heroes-after-dramatic-lake-rescue?fbclid=IwY2xjawTgKwRwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMTVqd2JZTUdxYlFvT2Iyc09zcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeANbsIxagUTEh3BzfbDd59IET0n4SRnNF3IDBAvuh3EUtk71BXklWz_Xp7to_aem_sEGyLFRSRS466s_60QVSxg\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">said<\/a> in a statement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Tuggle, Cain and Castro were near the course\u2019s second hole when they heard screams of distress coming from adjacent Culpeper Lake, as they later said in an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wusa9.com\/article\/news\/local\/good-news\/high-school-golf-tryout-turns-life-saving-rescue-three-virginia-teens-culperpper-kayak\/65-69ada35a-1a38-4f6a-834f-c6e07a355c3d\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">interview<\/a> broadcast on Tuesday by news channel WUSA of nearby Washington DC.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"1a34694d-e965-40cd-937c-82c9882de957\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-1oq85qr\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-3 | 3\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1rx5ky9\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-uyoh2p\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/aug\/05\/toast-the-cat-utah-fire\" class=\"dcr-f35c0u\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-vvxpdt\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6z6e7\">\n<div class=\"dcr-zh9rih\">Toast the cat survives Utah apartment fire by sheltering in closet for three days<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-oj13vq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-ef9nua\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">They soon realized it was a three-year-old boy and two adults who were yelling as the family struggled in deep water after their kayaks had capsized. Tuggle told WUSA that he could see one of the adults holding the child above his head, but the effort was \u201ccausing him to go underwater\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">So, while teammates called emergency responders for help and alerted the coaching staff, Tuggle, Cain and Castro dropped their clubs; ran down the steep, boulder-strewn shoreline, which was covered in thorny bushes; and leapt into the lake, the Culpeper police department said in its statement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The teens then swam out to the family and brought all of them back to the shore by the time first responders had arrived, police said. No one was injured, according to police, who added that Tuggle, Cain and Castro even retrieved the family\u2019s kayaks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Police said all three kayakers were wearing life vests \u2013 and video from an officer\u2019s bodyworn camera that was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reel\/1627396449431710\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">aired<\/a> by the Washington DC station WTTG showed a boy and a man at the scene each wearing one.The teens, meanwhile, reportedly told WUSA theyonly sawthe child in a lifejacket.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cThe guy actually came up to me and said, \u2018You saved my life,\u2019\u201d Tuggle recalled to the outlet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Whatever the case, as Eastern View golf coach Patrick Thornhill put it to WUSA, Tuggle, Cain and Castro wanted to immediately finish playing their round. Thornhill said he had to make them go home to change out of their wet clothes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">They did so, returned to the course in about 20 minutes, and shot their way on to the Eastern View golf team as it began preparing for the first tournament of the upcoming season, WUSA reported.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The Culpeper police\u2019s statement asserted that Tuggle, Cain and Castro \u201cprevented a tragedy\u201d. A quote attributed to department chief, Chris Settle, said that the teens\u2019 \u201ccourage and quick thinking \u2026 saved three lives\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cThese three young men saw someone in danger and acted immediately, without hesitation, at potentially great personal risk to themselves,\u201d Settle said. \u201cI hope their actions inspire all of us, and I\u2019m incredibly proud to see this kind of leadership from young people in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Thornhill in his own prepared statement said: \u201cThe instinct and courage these young men showed to jump into action and save lives is heroic.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Reflecting on his dramatic golf tryouts, Castro said to WUSA: \u201cIt just shows how much can change in a split second. If we weren\u2019t there, then their lives would have changed instantly.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-swayiu\"><span class=\"dcr-1xhbmzr\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-2c03t5\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-p7nd18\">\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/virginia\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Virginia<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/education\/school-sports\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">School sports<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-313bdz\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Virginia%20teens%20at%20golf%20tryouts%20rescue%20family%20from%20drowning%20and%20then%20make%20squad&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/aug\/06\/virginia-teens-save-drowning-family-school-golf-team?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-ncybeu\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-19bkree\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Faug%2F06%2Fvirginia-teens-save-drowning-family-school-golf-team&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/aug\/06\/virginia-teens-save-drowning-family-school-golf-team\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-1c41onw\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1kq7f60\"><span class=\"dcr-1ryr20k\"><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From left: Gavin Cain, Andrew Tuggle and Jackson Castro. Photograph: Culpeper police department View image in fullscreen From<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":7030,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7028","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-us-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7028","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7028"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7028\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7031,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7028\/revisions\/7031"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7030"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7028"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7028"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7028"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}