Kelly Anne (Swales) Graham

Combine intensity, dedication and talent, and you have a quick description of what makes
Athletes.

As a student at St. Theresa’s High School in Midland, Kelly received the athlete of the year award at both the junior and senior levels. While volleyball would become her first priority, she spread her talents across many sports, and would be selected most valuable player in both senior volleyball and track and field.

She participated and competed at every level, including OFSSA, in track events including hurdles, discus and relay. She competed at the Georgian Bay level in badminton, cross country skiing, tennis and basketball.

At St. Theresa’s, Kelly was a member of the Ontario Catholic Girls’ cham-pion volleyball team in 1981-82, the same team that would win the OFSSA bronze that year. As a midget, junior and senior, she was part of GBSSA championship volleyball teams.

Outside of school, her Region 5 volleyball team won the gold medal at the 1979 Ontario Summer Games, and at the 1983 Canada Games, her provincial team took the bronze.

Kelly played for the University of Toronto’s volleyball team from 1983 to 1987, and she was given the university’s T Holder Award for an outstanding combination of athletic and academic achievement.

Leaving university, she returned to teach physical education at St. Theresa’s and continued her nvolvement in a variety of sports. Between 1988 and 2000, her Midland Windsurfer volleyball teams won a total of 11 county titles. With partner Sharon Hartman, she finished second in the Ontario beach volleyball A Division championship.

Kelly has also placed as high as third in local triathlons and, in 1999, she won a 10-kilometre Adidas Series race. She has shown her running talents as well in her age category in the Midland Meatland Marathon, with a second-place fmish in 2000 and a third in 2001.

When not teaching, raising a family or participating in sports herself, Kelly has remained committed to coaching every conceivable sport, ranging from the high school and community levels down to elementary school.