Brewer High School

Suzanne “Suzy” Loiselle, class of 1988, was an elite, record-setting swimmer dominating the 100 yd. breaststroke event all four years of her career at Brewer High School. Due to Loiselle’s exceptional achievements in the pool, she earned her Brewer varsity letter four times which is not the norm for most high school athletes.  At the Penobscot Valley Conference Swim Championships, she had back-to-back first place finishes in the 100 yd. breaststroke her freshman and sophomore seasons and broke the PVC meet record as a sophomore with a time of 1:13.51. She avenged her junior year second place finish by winning gold when she was a senior, making her a 3-time PVC Champion and one of the most decorated swimmers in school history. At that meet, the Brewer girls also took a first-place victory in the 200 yd. Medley Relay in large part due to Loiselle’s outstanding leg in the 50 yd. breaststroke. Loiselle was not only one of the best breaststrokers in Maine, she was very versatile, often competing in the individual medley, an event consisting of the four swimming strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. Loiselle’s accomplishments in the pool contributed heavily to Brewer’s runner-up finish in three of her four PVC Championships. 

Loiselle broke the school record in the 100 yd. breaststroke numerous times over her high school career. Her school record time of 1:11.96 stood for seven years. In her junior season, she was a member of the school record setting 200 yd. medley relay. This record stood the test of time for twenty years.  

Loiselle was not just a dominant conference breaststroker, she was also victorious in the pool at the Class A State Meets. In the 100 yd. breaststroke, she stood atop the podium as a crowned state champion in 1986 and 1988 and claimed a photo finish by 0.6 seconds to make the podium earning a bronze medal in 1987. Loiselle’s individual and relay contributions to the team her junior year helped Brewer win the 1987 Class A State Championship Runner-Up title. Loiselle served as team captain her senior year and was named to the Maine State All-Star Team twice and made the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (NISCA) Top Ten list three times. Former Brewer Swim Coach Tim Babcock recalls, “Suzy was incredibly smart, so when it came to swimming, she knew how to train and manage her stroke mechanics to get the most out of every practice. She could take new techniques and apply them immediately. She was also a team leader as she set an example for teammates to follow. Suzy was a tough competitor who gave every race everything she had. She was also tough on herself due to her high expectations. All that said, she more than lived up to her expectations in swimming and beyond. My best memory was seeing Suzy’s smile after a fantastic swim at the State Meet when all the hard work and dedication paid off.”

Loiselle’s exceptional leadership skills and work ethic extended beyond the pool and into the classroom. Loiselle was named to the Maine All-Academic Swim Team her senior year. She was president of Key Club and Se Beowulf her senior year as well as active in several other clubs and organizations, including B-Club, Interclub Council and the National Honor Society. Loiselle was the recipient of the prestigious National Principals’ Award, the Bausch & Lomb Science Award and the D.A.R. Citizenship Award. Graduating at the top of her class, she was class valedictorian and a leader among her peers.   

Loiselle continued her education and swimming career at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York competing for the Big Red squad. She was a member of the Red Key Society. Loiselle  lettered all four years and qualified for Easterns, now known as the Ivy League Championships. Loiselle’s accomplishments in the pool assisted Cornell finishing fourth at Easterns, the best finish in program history and earned Cornell a 4-3 Ivy League dual meet record. “During Suzy’s time on the team at Cornell, she always worked hard and brought a consistent, positive attitude to every practice and every competition. She excelled academically as well and was a total pleasure to have on the team. She contributed positively and remains an active alum with the team to this day. Cornell is proud of her and this special recognition,” states Joe Lucia, former Head Coach, Cornell University. 

Suzanne Loiselle earned her doctorate from Weill Cornell Medical School and has been a practicing pediatrician for 27 years in New York City where she lives with her husband Rick Garapedian. She has not lost her love for swimming as she still swims at her local YMCA. Other hobbies include hiking/backpacking trips through various countries and a yearly hiking trip in Alaska.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE INDUCTION AND ACCEPTANCE SPEECH OF DR. SUZANNE LOISELLE

Presenter Peter Loiselle and Inductee Dr. Suzanne Loiselle