Breaking away

Lindsey Marchand is only one record away from holding all of Peninsula’s girls individual and relay records

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

In the two years Peninsula senior swimmer Lindsey Marchand has competed for the Seahawks, she’s broken every individual and relay school record except one — the 400-yard freestyle relay, which was set in 1976. Marchand is one of very few swimmers — if not the only one in the Puget Sound — who holds 90 percent of her school’s records. Her most recent record-breaking swim came earlier this month when she set the 200 individual medley record mark against Auburn Mountainview.

Marchand shattered the record — Ashley Grisdale’s 2006 mark — by more than four seconds with a time of 2 minutes, 3.74 seconds.

If you go by records alone, Marchand is the best swimmer to come out of Peninsula High. But the records aren’t what Marchand is all about.

Marchand, 18, has bigger aspirations. Her ultimate goal — since she was 11 — has been to swim as a member of the U.S. Olympic team.

“My goal was to swim to the best of my ability and help the team,” she said. “Luckily, the records came in addition.”

Leading up to the Beijing Olympics, Marchand swam four Olympic trial cuts. Her best finish was in the 100 fly, where she placed 21st during U.S. trials.

Marchand didn’t swim for Peninsula High during her sophomore or junior seasons because of her desire to make the Olympic team. She has carried her intense training over to the high school ranks, which she said has made her a better all-around athlete.

“Training for the Olympics helped me take it to a new level,” she said. “The practices were intense.”

Now that Marchand has the Olympic trials under her belt, she believes she has a realistic chance to make the U.S. Olympic team in four years.

Not only has the training helped her in the water, it’s changed her mindset about what it takes to be a top-notch swimmer.

“It’s not like any other meet I’ve been to,” Marchand said about the Olympic trials. “I barely missed the cut. Everything has to be crisp. Racing is what it’s all about.”

There are signs that her pursuit of the Olympic dream has potential: She won junior nationals in the 100 fly in August with a meet-record time of 59.5.

Another one of her goals is to make the world team, which will compete at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships in Rome, Italy, from July 18 through Aug. 2.

For now, Marchand can look at Peninsula High School’s record board and see her name from top to bottom.

“When I first came here, I wanted to break them,” Marchand said. “It’s cool. I like coming here and the board says Marchand, Marchand, Marchand, Marchand. I look forward to someone breaking my records.”

Helping her teammates improve their times has been one way to show that she is a team player as well.

Seahawks swim coach Craig Brown said Marchand is almost like a coach.

“They (PHS swimmers) like to get behind her,” Brown said. “And she (Marchand) helps them out.”

Brown said one particular swimmer has improved her push-offs and underwater strokes as a result of Marchand’s assistance.

Brown and Marchand’s goals are to finish in the Top 10 as a team at the Class 3A/2A state meet. Marchand said she plans to race in the 100 fly and 100 breastroke, two events in which she’s gunning for state and national records.

Brown isn’t sure yet which two relay events Marchand will swim in.

Getting her feet wet

Marchand was 9 when she competed in her first race, the 200 free.

She was lapped — twice.

Her grandfather, Ray Totten, was the initial reason she started swimming. Then her father, Michael, began to mold her into a superstar.

Michael knew his daughter had unique talent in the water. But he wanted her to develop as much as possible.

“He’s (father) why I’m so versatile,” Marchand said. “He helped me not pigeonhole myself into just one event.”

As a member of the nationally recognized King Aquatic Club, Marchand holds the club’s record in the 100 fly in the 15-16 age group (54.47, 2007) and in the 17-18 age group (54.64, 2008).

In the open swim records, she holds the 200 medley relay in 1:40.91 with Ariana Kukors, Megan Jendrick and Svetlana Karpeeva. She also holds the 800 free relay with Jendrick, Mattie Kukors and Ariana Kukors in 7:21.87.

Marchand said her father goes with her to every club meet and video tapes her races, so they can analyze and figure how she can swim faster.

“He’s like my second coach,” Marchand said.

Life of an Olympic swimmer

Marchand doesn’t have much of a social life. She’s turned down three Division I scholarship offers and is deciding between Tennessee, California, UCLA and Stanford.

She will leave to visit the University of Texas campus on Saturday. She’s already visited a number of other schools, including Stanford, earlier this month.

“I’m trying to keep it all together,” Marchand said of her busy schedule. “Sleep is usually what I sacrifice.”

Her mother, Cindy, is like a personal assistant, because she diligently manages her swimming and school schedules.

Because of Marchand’s commitment to her club team, she doesn’t practice with the Peninsula swim team in the afternoon. Instead, while most students are still asleep, she jumps into the high school pool from 5:30 to 7 a.m. before she gets ready for school.

Marchand swims for her club six days a week, for four hours a day after school and on the weekends. She said swimming is like a full-time job, putting in about 31 hours a week.

All-time PHS girls record-breaker

The first time Marchand swam the 50 free for Peninsula this year, she broke the school record in 24.25. It was a 33-year-old mark formerly held by Kathy Garrison in 24.40.

As a freshman, Marchand set six records, erasing the standards in the 200 medley relay, 200 free, 100 fly, 500 free, 200 free relay and 100 breast.

That left Marchand with four other records to break as a senior before she could be crowned Peninsula swimming queen. She came close, breaking the 200 medley relay, 50 free, 100 free and 100 back.

She’s also re-broken two of her previously set records — the 100 fly and 100 breast.

Brown said Marchand would have the 400 free relay, too, but the Seahawks are short one swimmer who can match Marchand’s speed.

Peninsula Athletic Director Curtiss Hall said the records weren’t that easy to break.

“Records are meant to be broken,” Marchand said. “I look forward to someone breaking my records.”

Reach sports reporter Marques Hunter at 253-853-9246 or by e-mail at marques.hunter@gateline.com.