GOLD, RECORDS FOR THIS STAR
Ask those in swimming circles who’s Houston’s brightest star and The Woodlands’ Lucie Nordmann likely will be the answer. The now two-time All-Greater Houston Girls Swimmer of the Year only got better as a junior in 2017.
Nordmann collected four gold medals and four record-setting times at state this season — two individually and two from the relays. The Woodlands won the Class 6A meet as a team, which is the program’s seventh state title and she was Swimmer of the Meet.
Nordmann won a second consecutive gold medal in the 50-yard freestyle at 22.69 seconds, setting a Class 6A record in the preliminaries at 22.68.
Nordmann also won a third consecutive gold medal in the 100 backstroke at 52.48, which is an overall state record.
The 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay teams of which she was a part also set state records with times of 1:41.83 and 3:21.06 respectively.
Perhaps being a part of the 400 freestyle relay is Nordmann’s biggest achievement. The Woodlands and Austin Westlake went into the event — the last of the meet — tied for first place at 225 points and The Woodlands’ win in the event clinched the state title.
“From the year before that we had one state record so she basically more than doubled that,” The Woodlands coach Kent Kirchner said. “It was a great year for us. She’s just a heck of a competitor.
“She’s very highly motivated internally. With her teammates around her, that just enhances everything.”
Q: What was the best moment of this season?
A: “What stood out to me this season is how our team came together really well at the end at state and we put together a great group of girls.”
Q: What were the most important changes you made heading into this season?
A: “For one, I worked on tempo a lot. Work and just trying to get my 50 speed a lot faster. Same with backstroke for the 100 and we’ve just really been working on my strategy and all the little things I need to do to get my time down where it needs to be.”
Q: Did you head into your races knowing you had a legit chance to break state records?
A: “In the back of my head I never think about records or specific times I want to go. I always want to go my best time. You always want to go a personal best. So going into that race, I was just thinking about all my technique and what I need to do to set myself up for that time.”
Q: Winning the Class 6A team title came down to the 400-freestyle relay. What was that race like?
A: “It was awesome. So I found out that Westlake and us were tied in the warm-up pool right before. I was leadoff. I’m up there before they start the race. They turn off the lights. It’s the first time they did that since the meet began. They started playing intense music and I’m really good friends with the girl who led off for Westlake, Dakota Luther. She was facing me, so I just smiled at her. It’s a light atmosphere but when it comes down to it, you know you have to get the job done. So I just took it all out for my team. I put everything I had left in the pool because it was the last race. We just wanted to go out with a bang. It was such an exciting atmosphere. It was so awesome to end the meet like that.”
Q: It’s been a great year for sports in The Woodlands. What is it like to be part of that success?
A: “I’m so proud to be a Highlander. They’re very understanding and flexible with schoolwork, just supporting all the teachers. Everybody’s so supportive and very into our success. They want to help us be at the top of our game. It’s just a great atmosphere to be in.”
Q: Any update on the recruiting trail for you?
A: “I’ve got it down to probably my top five. I don’t really want to make the information public though. But I’m narrowing it down. It’s very exciting.”
Q: What excites you most about swimming at the next level?
A: “Just to be part of a great big college team and family and great atmosphere. College swimming I’ve heard is just amazing. All the friends you make, lifelong friends. All the experiences you gain. I’m just so excited.”
Q: Is it crazy to suggest you have Olympic hopes one day?
A: “No it’s not. I get that all the time. Yes I do. I don’t like to talk about it too much publicly. I don’t know. I’m not one of those people that likes to flaunt.”
Q: What are your hopes for 2018?
A: “Me being a senior I really want to bring the team together and guide the freshmen and put together a strong team. I know we are losing two seniors this year which is sad. But we just have to keep the ball rolling.”