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NCAA News Archive - 2007
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Endzone - Different strokes for older folks
Pacific Lutheran welcomes 43-year-old student-athlete to the pool
Pacific Lutheran welcomes 43-year-old student-athlete to the pool
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By Leilana McKindra
The NCAA News
The NCAA News
As a 20-year veteran of the Washington State Patrol, Michael Turcott is used to keeping a sharp eye on his surroundings. This past year, however, it was Turcott who was attracting attention as a member of the Pacific Lutheran University swimming team.
Turcott, a 43-year-old father of two, has made his share of waves in the pool this season, including placing in the Northwest Conference meet in February.
Turcott matriculated at Pacific Lutheran after graduating high school but after a couple of years decided to pursue a career as a state trooper. After graduating from the Washington State Patrol Academy, he has spent the past 22 years serving and protecting the citizens of the state of Washington on the road as a trooper, first as a sergeant and most recently as a lieutenant at patrol headquarters in Olympia.
With the successful law enforcement career accomplished, Turcott got the bug to finish what he started at Pacific Lutheran. In fall 2005, his current job assignment with its flexible work schedule influenced Turcott’s decision to return to school to complete a degree in sociology.
A longtime interest in swimming fueled Turcott’s desire to join the Lutes in the pool. He had competed for two years in high school and in 2003, he began participating in a master’s swimming program. To make his decision easier, another older adult swam for a league school at last year’s Northwest Conference swimming championships.
“I’m thinking, ‘If he can do it, I can do it,’ ” said Turcott.
This past fall, Turcott did a bit of everything in the pool for the Lutes as head coach Jim Johnson sought just the right niche for him. Though admittedly not the fastest of the Lutes swimmers, Turcott set a number of personal goals, one of which was simply to experience college swimming and contribute to the team in a positive way.
“All of my expectations were exceeded,” he said. “I learned a lot about the sport. I placed in some dual meets and got a few points here and there. I wanted to be at least as fast as some of the others on the team — and I was.”
Turcott also hoped to place in the conference meet, in which he competed in the 200- and 400-yard individual medleys, and the 1,650-yard freestyle. In what he describes as a stroke of good fortune, Turcott placed 16th in the 400 IM due to an opponent’s disqualification.
“That was kind of like the icing on the cake,” he said. “That was a big day in my life. The fact that I got there because someone DQ’d — I don’t care. I’ll take it.”
Though he is sure he’ll keep swimming, Turcott, a senior academically, is less certain of his return to the pool for the Lutes. By his own admission, he was highly motivated to swim this year and he has accomplished the goals he set out to achieve. While he would like to build on his successes and improve, Turcott seeks more of a balance among academics, athletics, work and home life.
Regardless of his decision, Turcott said he has appreciated the opportunity and the experience.
“I really wasn’t looking for approval from anyone to do this, but I knew it was going to raise some eyebrows,” he said. “I don’t care about that. The value of doing something challenging is tremendous. What did I take away from this? Well, now I’m wondering, I’ve done this, what kind of crazy thing can I do next?”
It might be coaching, Turcott said. He is scheduled to graduate in 2008 and will be eligible to retire from the state patrol in 2010.
Turcott, a 43-year-old father of two, has made his share of waves in the pool this season, including placing in the Northwest Conference meet in February.
Turcott matriculated at Pacific Lutheran after graduating high school but after a couple of years decided to pursue a career as a state trooper. After graduating from the Washington State Patrol Academy, he has spent the past 22 years serving and protecting the citizens of the state of Washington on the road as a trooper, first as a sergeant and most recently as a lieutenant at patrol headquarters in Olympia.
With the successful law enforcement career accomplished, Turcott got the bug to finish what he started at Pacific Lutheran. In fall 2005, his current job assignment with its flexible work schedule influenced Turcott’s decision to return to school to complete a degree in sociology.
A longtime interest in swimming fueled Turcott’s desire to join the Lutes in the pool. He had competed for two years in high school and in 2003, he began participating in a master’s swimming program. To make his decision easier, another older adult swam for a league school at last year’s Northwest Conference swimming championships.
“I’m thinking, ‘If he can do it, I can do it,’ ” said Turcott.
This past fall, Turcott did a bit of everything in the pool for the Lutes as head coach Jim Johnson sought just the right niche for him. Though admittedly not the fastest of the Lutes swimmers, Turcott set a number of personal goals, one of which was simply to experience college swimming and contribute to the team in a positive way.
“All of my expectations were exceeded,” he said. “I learned a lot about the sport. I placed in some dual meets and got a few points here and there. I wanted to be at least as fast as some of the others on the team — and I was.”
Turcott also hoped to place in the conference meet, in which he competed in the 200- and 400-yard individual medleys, and the 1,650-yard freestyle. In what he describes as a stroke of good fortune, Turcott placed 16th in the 400 IM due to an opponent’s disqualification.
“That was kind of like the icing on the cake,” he said. “That was a big day in my life. The fact that I got there because someone DQ’d — I don’t care. I’ll take it.”
Though he is sure he’ll keep swimming, Turcott, a senior academically, is less certain of his return to the pool for the Lutes. By his own admission, he was highly motivated to swim this year and he has accomplished the goals he set out to achieve. While he would like to build on his successes and improve, Turcott seeks more of a balance among academics, athletics, work and home life.
Regardless of his decision, Turcott said he has appreciated the opportunity and the experience.
“I really wasn’t looking for approval from anyone to do this, but I knew it was going to raise some eyebrows,” he said. “I don’t care about that. The value of doing something challenging is tremendous. What did I take away from this? Well, now I’m wondering, I’ve done this, what kind of crazy thing can I do next?”
It might be coaching, Turcott said. He is scheduled to graduate in 2008 and will be eligible to retire from the state patrol in 2010.
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