Finding a home for Seahawks swimmers was a proud moment for valedictorian

The Dundas Seahawks needed a temporary home and Elise Shupe was happy to help.

The Seahawks are a Special Olympics swim team that practices out of the Dundas Community Pool and competes in regional, provincial, national and international meets. The Seahawks first hit the water in 1986 with six swimmers and two volunteer coaches – today the club has 35 athletes between the ages of 12 and 58 years and a dozen coaches, including Elise. The coaches not only teach team members how to swim and compete – they build confidence and a sense of community.

Elise brings experience as a varsity swimmer along with genuine passion, joy and happiness, says head coach Janet Young. “You can just see it in her eyes. Elise has such a wonderful, calming influence and a real sense of humour.”

She’s also a dedicated volunteer with an incredible work ethic, says Janet. How dedicated is Elise? She flew in from a family holiday in Europe, landed in the middle of the night and headed to Waterloo for the Special Olympics Spring Ontario Provincial Games. More than 750 athletes – including 234 swimmers – from across Ontario competed in the games May 23-26. Every Seahawk swimmer medalled at the May 23-25 competition. And after dancing up a storm with the team during closing ceremonies, Elise got back on a plane for her summer job in Banff.

Along with coaching in the pool and supervising during out-of-town meets and games, Elise has been flipping burgers for the team at Friday fundraising barbecues at Turkstra Lumber in Dundas.

Elise was in her second year as a volunteer coach when renovations started at the pool. Team practices were scaled back or cancelled altogether. Elise saw how hard the swimmers worked to perform at their best. She also knew that the pool is where the swimmers forged friendships and finally feel like they fit in and belong. It’s also where the swimmers’ families lean on each other, sharing stories, resources and supports.

Elise had a potential solution. At McMaster, she was the student aquatics coordinator. She’d joined the varsity swim team in her second year as a Kinesiology student. Elise picked up lifeguarding shifts at the pool before or after practices. Those shifts led to an offer to take on the coordinator role. Elise pitched her supervisor on having the Seahawks practice at Mac – it was an easy sell. And that’s how the Seahawks found their way to McMaster.

That was Elise’s proudest moment as a Mac undergrad – her best day was the Welcome Day for second-year kinesiology students. It was the first time they were on campus after the pandemic. “It was a surreal experience,” says Elise. “We sat around chatting, painting wood cookies and doing karaoke.” For Elise, getting “kin”itiated and painted blue – a department tradition – was the highlight of the day. “It’s awesome looking back and seeing how close our class became over our four years together.”

Elise, who’s been nominated the valedictorian for her Spring Convocation ceremony, has lots of people to thank. Topping the list would be Krista Madsen. “You don’t often find a professor who you connect with so easily. Krista cares not only about the academic success of her students but also their personal wellbeing. She’s been an amazing mentor and has taught me so many things not just about anatomy but also life in general.”

Elise will be back at Mac in the fall after accepting her offer to the two-year Physican Assistant Education Program. And she’ll be back in the pool – Janet, the Seahawk swimmers and their families couldn’t be happier.