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07/20/2016 08:30 AMIt was Memorial Day weekend, the kickoff to summer for many, and the first weekend the East Haven Town Beach was staffed with lifeguards. The beach was crowded with beachgoers and Shannon Wynne was working the lifeguard stand.
“I saw these two kids who looked like they were active drowners, so I jumped off the stand, grabbed my buoy, and ran to them,” says Shannon. “I grabbed one of them and one of the mothers came right behind me and grabbed the other kid and pulled them out of the water.”
Shannon noted the children were only a couple feet into the water, but because of high tide, there was a drop and the children were suddenly couldn’t touch the ground.
“I just went—it was a reaction and I didn’t think about anything else,” says Shannon. “It was weird afterward thinking about what happened, because that’s when it hit me. The kids were shaken up, but everyone was fine and their mothers were very grateful for me helping them get the kids out of the water. I was shocked at first, but it was very rewarding.”
Shannon, who just graduated from East Haven High School (EHHS), has always loved the water. She grew up with a pool at her house and learned to swim at the town pool when she was five.
By the time Shannon got to high school, she knew she wanted to join the swim team. She had continued to train at the town pool and was ready to test her skills in competition.
“I was very excited about joining the team going into freshman year because it’s a fall sport so it was nice going in and having a group of friends already,” says Shannon. “Being able to compete with the high school team was very rewarding, especially when you have your teammates making their goals, you’re reaching your own goals, and everyone is coming together.”
Shannon had a successful career with the team, earning a spot at the SCC Trials as a junior, captaining the team as a junior and senior, and being awarded MVP and Scholar-Athlete honors.
For the Yellowjackets, her favorite event was the 500 freestyle, though she also participated in the 200 free, 200 free relay, 200 medley relay, and 400 free relay. Her personal-best time in the 500 freestyle was 6:29.
“I love the 500 freestyle because you never knew what was going to happen,” says Shannon. “The race can start one way and the next minute, it’s a whole different race. You never know how it’s going to turn out.”
As soon as Shannon turned 16, she began training as a lifeguard. She earned her lifeguard certification from the YMCA in Branford and just recently was re-certified. Her training included studying the different types of drownings, first aid, CPR, and water tests.
“There were timed and distance activities,” says Shannon. “There’s a lot of time and effort that goes into it.
Since becoming certified, Shannon has worked for the Town of East Haven. She is a lifeguard at the town pool and also works at the beach when she is needed. She also occasionally teaches swim lessons.
“I like the interaction with the beachgoers and how rewarding it can be getting to help people in their scariest times,” says Shannon. “I’d been a swimmer since I was five, so it was the next thing.”
Shannon won’t continue swimming competitively in college when she enters Central Connecticut State University’s honors program. She plans to pursue a career in elementary education as she has wanted to be a teacher since she was little.
“Most of my family are teachers and I see how that has brought joy to their lives. I like being able to help kids and see them reach their goals and their smiles when they reach that goal,” says Shannon, whose ultimate career goal is to be a principal of an elementary school. “I would like to first have experience in the classroom, then be a principal to better help every at the school, not just one grade or specific group.”
During her time at EHHS, Shannon enjoyed various science classes and will have a concentration in biology in college. She earned high honors throughout high school, was also treasurer of her class throughout her high school career, and was a member of the National Honor Society as a junior and senior.
While Shannon is looking forward to going to college, she is going to miss her hometown and being surrounded by the water.
“A lot of things I do for fun revolve around water—swimming, going to the beach, hanging out with friends,” says Shannon. “I’ll miss the friends I’ve made and being away from all those people. It’s been the same people since elementary school, so I’ll miss seeing the familiar faces, but I’m also looking forward to meeting new people and having different experiences.”