Suffield, Connecticut
Christine Patillo Pape
Swimming
Inducted in 2012
Suffield Academy under Coach Andy Lowe has been a bastion for outstanding swimmers throughout the years. And right at the top of that list is Christine Pattillo Pape! For four dominating years she was the best of the best garnering the MVP in swimming in each year of her Academy career.
Christine began serious swimming as an eight-year old at the Suffield Country Club Pool. Encouraged by her parents and siblings, she showed significant promise as a competitive swimmer and joined a Springfield AAU swim team, the Sunrise Swim Club, at the age of 13. Here she came face-to-face with elite swimmers from throughout the area and, indeed, throughout the country. Coached by top-rate swimming instructors, she travelled throughout the Northeast and swam against increasingly proficient competition. During this period, she was selected to participate in the Junior Olympics, the National Youth Games held at UMass, and Nationals held at Harvard. At the National Youth games, Christine won three gold medals and one second place medal to pace the Springfield Team to the Championship.
By the time she reached Suffield Academy in 1980, she was already an accomplished and thoroughly tested swimmer. As a freshman, she continued to shine in the pool winning numerous individual events and contributing to Suffield team victories. The highlight of her first year was being named the New England Prep School "Swimmer of the Year," an unbelievable honor for a freshman.Throughout the remainder of her Academy career, she continued to pile up the accomplishments. In 1981, she set New England records in the 100 yard butterfly, the 200 yard individual medley, and as a member of the 200 yard individual medley relay team. She earned All American honors for the butterfly and relay events, as well as for the 100 yard backstroke competition. In 1982, she swam a leg for the New England record-setting 400 meter freestyle relay team and set 7 individual Academy swimming marks. In 1983, she was 15-18 age group champion for the 100 meter freestyle, 100 meter butterfly, and 200 meter individual medley. Once again, in 1984, she earned All American honors for her participation in the 400 yard freestyle relay. The three-time swim team captain left an unparalleled legacy on the Academy swimming record board where, even today, her name appears 10 times! Her 100 yard butterfly time stood unbroken for 30 years before falling, the longest held swimming record ever.
Following graduation from SA, Christine attended Syracuse University where she swam for two years in the Division I program. After 13 grueling years of competition, she turned her attention to her academic pursuit of a nursing career.
