A HUMBLE STANDOUT

Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Nevada sophomore Grace Reichard competes at the Carthage Invite earlier this season. Reichard owns virtually every NHS record in girls swimmming. Jason Peake/Daily Mail photos

By Jason Peake

Daily Mail Sports Editor

NEVADA -- If you ask Grace Reichard about her school records, she'll politely smile and shrug.

Pictured is Nevada sophomore swimmer Grace Reichard.

A sophomore swimmer, Reichard has practically wiped the record board clean at Nevada High School.

But you wouldn't know it from talking to her.

The humble Reichard isn't one to brag. In fact, she couldn't even tell you what her numerous records are.

"I really don't know," she says, shaking her head with a smile.

Reichard's sure of one thing, though -- her love of swimming and the camaraderie with her teammates is much more important than accolades.

Just ask her coach.

"Grace is one of the most humble creatures on the planet," Nevada Coach Amyl Bishop said. "Grace is naturally talented, dedicated to her sport beyond belief, but still puts her faith and family ahead of the water. And she's very dedicated to her teammates."

Reichard said swimming has always been a shared activity in her family.

She recalled first taking swimming lessons at 5-years-old in California, with her first meet coming a year later.

"I've been swimming ever since," she said.

Upon her arrival at Nevada High School, Reichard immediately became a standout in the pool. As a freshman, Reichard qualified for all eight events at state, a rare feat. She broke virtually every NHS record, too.

Reichard admitted she was a bit surprised by her instant success in the water.

"I didn't know what to expect when I came in last year," she said. "Everything I did was beyond what I ever expected. I never knew I'd even qualify for state. It was amazing. So this year, I want to do it all again."

At state last year, Reichard took fifth in the 50 freestyle and eighth in the 100 free.

And she's gained more than swimming accomplishments, too.

Reichard said the camaraderie on the swim team has been great, providing her with friends for life.

"These guys have become like family," she said.

Reichard clearly enjoys the swim meets, whether it's spending time with her teammates or chatting with swimmers from other schools.

"Girls from other schools are always coming up and hugging Grace," Bishop said. "And Grace is always cheering for all the other girls. You'll see her, probably the best swimmer at the event, cheering on beginners from other teams."

While swimming may come naturally to Reichard, there's hard work involved, as well. Reichard and her teammates practice five days a week during the high school season, and sometimes have two-a-days.

"I try to get in as many yards as I can every day," she says.

In the preseason, she began running a month before the season to get in better shape. During the offseason, Reichard trains in Webb City with the Jasper County Killer Whales.

She sees swimming in her future, too. Reichard's current goal is to make USA Swimming's Junior Nationals in Florida this March. She hopes to meet the qualifying times soon.

"I'm five-tenths of a second away in one event and four-hundredths of a second way in another," she said. "I have a chance to qualify."

First things, first.

Reichard and the Tigers will be competing at the annual Southwest Missouri Championships this weekend in Springfield. While Reichard has already qualified as an individual for state, the team hopes to qualify in the 200 freestyle relay. Megan Messick, Tayrin Schmitt, and Emma Denman are the others on the relay.

"I'm really excited," Reichard said of the meet. "We're tapering down to prepare for it. And we're going to get into our fast suits, so that should help the relay. And just the atmosphere there...it's great. Everyone's trying to get cuts."

The following week Reichard will be competing at state in St. Peters.

Due to state rules, she'll have to pick only two events out of the eight she's qualified in for the state championships. Reichard said she'll likely pick the 50 free and 100 free.

"Those are the two events I want to qualify in for Junior Nationals," she said.

After a stellar freshman season, Reichard had attained the school record in the following individual events -- 200 free, 100 free, 200 IM, 50 free, 100 fly, 100 breast, 100 back and 500 free. She's attempted to go one step further this year. Reichard has improved her times, and records, in nearly every event.

"I think I've done just as well," she said.

"She's still improving, which is pretty amazing," Bishop added. "She hasn't plateaued yet."

But when asked if she's beaten her record times from last year, Reichard admitted she wasn't sure. Bishop noted the records aren't that important at this point.

"That's not to say the records aren't a big deal," Bishop said. "But with Grace, it's about taking off time. And it's 'Did we have fun at the meet? Or did we have fun at practice?' It's about the camaraderie for all the girls first. That's what is really important to them. I want all the girls to have a good experience. And I don't want Grace to look back on it later and feel like it was a cut-throat experience."

Celebrating the school records and state medals can wait for Reichard.

Right now, the humble standout's just enjoying the entire experience.

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