I am pleased to announce the Master Ducks Coaching Staff for the 2023-24 Season! We are very fortunate to have experienced and accomplished coaches who are dedicated to supporting your swimming goals.

  • Kelly Hughes - Head Coach
  • Paolina Allan – Triathlon & Open Water Specialist
  • Colette Fitzgerald - Competitive Swimming Specialist
  • Kiersten Wollenzien - Competitive Swimming Specialist
  • Lauren Hemburrow - Competitive Swimming Specialist
  • Emma Tubaro - Competitive Swimming Coaching Assistant

Kelly Hughes – Head Coach

I have been fully immersed in coaching competitive swimming for over 23 years in the Town of Aurora and Newmarket. In 2019 I had the opportunity to take over the helm of the Aurora Master Ducks as President and Head Coach.  I jumped at the chance, having previously coached with the Club for 6 seasons (2001 – 2007).  It is extremely rewarding to work with adults with limited experience in the sport, but enormous courage and aspirations, as well as former competitive swimmers who have expansive backgrounds and have returned to the sport they love. I have spent an equal amount of my coaching career working with Competitive Youth Programs:  Age Group Coach, Newmarket Stingray Swim Club (2021 - Current); Head Coach, Aurora Ducks Swimming (2013-2019); Head Age Group Coach,Whitchurch-Stouffville Swim Club (2019 - 2020); Assistant Coach with the Special Ducks Swim Club & the Aurora Rollers Bocce Team (2016-2019).  I have supported athletes to podium performances at Festival, Provincial, Eastern Canadian and Provincial Open Water Events, as well as qualification to compete at Senior Trials. I am a former competitive swimmer, National Team Member, and I represented Canada as a Finalist at the 1978 Commonwealth Games, 1978 World Championships and 1979 Pan American Games.

My involvement in competitive swimming has rewarded me with some great moments both in the pool and on the deck. I am very excited to partner with each of you and continue to move forward on OUR swimming journey. I am committed to building a strong program that delivers quality opportunites for skill and fitness development, competition, fun and fellowship. I look forward to working with you and assisting you with your personal goals in the pool.

Paolina Allan – Coach – Triathlon & Open Water Specialist

Paolina Allan, a former professional Triathlete. A late bloomer who found her form in her 30’s, She has raced all Over North America and Europe. Representing Canada at the ITU long distance Championships. She has qualified as a Professional Triathlete 3 times for the Ironman World championships in Kona. In 2009 Paolina was the Triathlon Canada Elite Long Course Triathlete of the Year. Locally she is a multiple-time winner of the Multi-sport Triathlon Series overall standings, she still holds several course records in Ontario. Paolina was inducted into the Aurora Sport Hall of Fame in 2018 for her accomplishments in Long Distance Triathlon. She continues to pursue her road cycling career; she works with Multi-Sport Triathlon launching new triathlon stars, she owns her own personal training business and was the strength coach for Ducks Swimming's Youth Program (2015 -2019).

Colette Fitzgerald - Coach - Competitive Swimming Specialist

 

Kiersten Wollenzien - Coach - Competitive Swimming Specialist

I have been in the swimming world since I was nine years old and started swimming for the Newmarket Stingrays Swim Club. Upon graduating high school, I accepted a scholarship to Division I University of New Hampshire where I competed as a distance freestyler/relay anchor for my four years, helping my team attain an ECAC Championship title in my senior year. 

Once I graduated from UNH, I knew I was not done with the sport of swimming and became the Assistant Coach at Queen’s University while I got my Bachelor of Education. After graduating from Queen’s, I moved back to York Region and started coaching for the Newmarket Stingrays. I was with the Stingrays for four years where I helped my swimmers reach their goals, some of whom became regional and provincial champions. 
 
I have most recently coached at the Oshawa Aquatic Club where I was Head Age Group coach, coaching swimmers of all ages and levels and helping them to achieve their goals. I became not only a coach, but a new confidante, and a person the swimmers felt they could count on to help with their troubles in and out of the pool. I have my NCCP Level 2 coaching certification. 
 
My favourite part of coaching is seeing when a concept or a technique clicks in a swimmers head and they unlock a whole new level. Between that and seeing them achieve their goals, I am a big cry baby. 

Lauren Hemburrow - Competitive Swimming Coaching Assistant

I grew up in Aurora and swam for the Ducks, then the Newmarket Stingrays under coach Alan Swanson. I started swimming at age 10, and competed provincially and nationally throughout Canada - including a year abroad as a young swimmer in BC. Post-secondary, I enjoyed swimming in the US as an international student athlete, under scholarship, as an NCAA D1 competitive swimmer at New Mexico State University. I recently graduated spring of 2022, and soon after graduating, followed my dreams to travel - across S/E Asia and Europe. 

My current training aspirations include triathlon competition and future goals in completing an Ironman. My favourite thing about swimming is the incredible community built around it… being on teams where I share my passion for this sport, and be supported by best friends and coaches. My passion to compete in the pool has never faded, and I am thrilled to continue it as a coach.

Emma Tubaro - Competitive Swimming Coaching Assistant

Emma has been swimming her whole life!   With 10+ years of competitive swimming experience as an athlete, Emma decided to put some of her skills and knowledge to work on the deck.  She became a Swim Instructor for the Town of Newmarket in 2016; a Stroke Development Coach for Aurora Ducks Swimming Youth Program in 2017, and joined the Master Ducks Staff in 2021. Emma is also a Stroke Development Coach with York Artistic Swimming.