Carol Lynn competes in last meet

Saipan Swim Club’s Carol Lynn Pierce smiles for the camera while waiting for the start of the 50m butterfly event in the Tsunami Saipan Mid Season Meet held last Saturday at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

One of the pillars in the CNMI swimming community had her farewell race last Saturday during the Tsunami Saipan Mid Season Meet at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool.

Carol Lynn Pierce swam in the 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 200m individual medley, 50m butterfly, 200m medley relay, and 200m freestyle relay events in her last competition on Saipan as she and her family are scheduled to relocate to Virginia this Saturday after living here for 30 years.

“I felt I came full circle in life. It was exhilarating, I began my tender years in a competitive swimming pool and felt it fitting to have my last federation event be in the water while my first born grandson R.J. Pierce officiated as stroke and turn judge,” said Pierce a day after her swan song.

The long-time Saipan Swim Club and Northern Mariana Islands Swimming Federation official is leaving the island to be with other members of her family.

“We want to be closer to our seven grandchildren and four children who are spread out all over the U.S. It has been a wonderful 30 years on Saipan. My husband and I raised our children here and we feel we are definitely leaving home,” the 60-year-old swimmer said.

Pierce is leaving Saipan after countless hours of helping SSC and its swimmers, coaching fellow masters swimmers (in ocean and pool swims and even synchronized swimming), keeping the CNMI’s swim record books for decades, and representing the Commonwealth in off-island tournaments and meetings.

She would also bring with her record miles in ocean swim, having done several PauPau lagoon swims, 7K Eagle Ray swims (PauPau to Managaha), PauPau to Tanapag, and Escape from Managaha.

“Her dedication and endurance is evident in the annual Polar Bear swims. Last season (2016-1017) she set a record by swimming 104 miles during the three months of winter. The goal for under 60 years of age is 40 miles. Carol Lynn has probably swam more miles than any other swimmer in the history of Saipan, including many laps of the Marpi pool,” said Pierce’s swim buddy and close friend Suzy Kindel, who was at the pool deck to watch the former’s last meet.

“I want to thank Carol Lynn for making our swims fun and for constantly pushing me. Next to the Sakovichs, Carol Lynn probably has dedicated more hours to the sport on this island than anyone else,” Kindel said.

Kindel added she will treasure every moment she spent with Pierce, including the most memorable one during the Christmas Eve of 2016.

“My best memory with Carol Lynn was when we were swimming in the PauPau lagoon. Usually, when we do that swim we try and often do find WWII bombs. But this time we actually found a bottle of champagne laying at the bottom of the lagoon. Carol Lynn somehow managed to swim about 1,000 meters back to shore carrying the bottle where we proceeded to share with our fellow swimmers! The coincidence of finding such a bottle in the vast lagoon was beyond belief and coincidently it was a bottle of Korbel which is what we would often share on our birthdays,” Kindel said.

“Carol Lynn’s departure from Saipan will leave a huge gap in Saipan’s swimming and in my life. Carol Lynn is my hero and a model citizen. And sadly my life will be changed as I will no longer have my best swim buddy next to me, pushing and entertaining me all at the same time. Swimming will be boring without her,” she added.

SSC is also saddened with the departure of Pierce, but wishes her and her family well.

“Mrs. Pierce has been invaluable to the Saipan Swim Club for the last 25 years and we are sad to see leave, but excited for the new chapter in her life. She has been involved with the club in some capacity for the last 25 years and her expertise, support, and leadership will be missed. I swam with her kids in the ‘90s and she was highly involved then and I had the pleasure of coaching her grandson RJ. As a new coach starting out, I turned to her for advice and she was always willing to help. Thank you for your reliability, passion, and love for swimming, and for working to promote swimming in the CNMI. We will miss you,” SSC coach Jacoby Winkfield.

NMISF acknowledged, too Pierce’s contributions to CNMI swimming.

“She has been one of our most dedicated swimmers, official, board member and administrator over the past 25 years. She has worked tirelessly to promote both competitive and developmental swimming. Out of the water, she has been an active NMISF board member, referee, and official at many of our meets. Carol Lynn has consistently been a valuable member of our aquatics community and her contributions have had and will continue to promote and encourage swimming for all here in the CNMI and through the Pacific,” NMISF president John Hirsh.