She might be one of the preeminent swimmers on the WSU swim team, but she is passionate about more than just the pool. Junior Alison Mand loves to travel the world and bond with her teammates outside of the water.

Mand knew she wanted to be part of the Cougar community on her first campus visit, when she observed the importance of athletics to students and the community. Mand said the unique bond and diversity that exists between her teammates is what separates them from any other varsity team at WSU.

“Since we have this one thing, it’s brought us together,” Mand said. “I’m so proud to be a part of this group because we get along, and it’s just really special. It allows me to be with a group and work together, but then you also have your races where it’s all about you, and you get to focus and completely do your thing.”

During her junior year of high school, Mand took time off from the pool and studied in Mexico as a foreign exchange student. Mand said she was persuaded by one of her closest friends to take a leap of faith and pursue an adventure that would change her life.

“Even if (was) the hardest thing I ever do, I think it will still be a growing experience,” Mand said. “It’s something that will make me a better person. It was one of the craziest decisions I’ve ever made.”

Mand grew up in Vancouver with her mother, father and younger sister, Carmen. She participated in track and field and soccer.

When Mand was 8 years old, her parents convinced her to take swimming lessons. Mand said she originally hated swimming and didn’t even like being in the water.

“It turns out I was really good at it, so I decided I wanted to keep at it,” Mand said.

Leading up to high school, Mand continued to stay active in swimming, and she competed on a club team in Beaverton, Ore. Mand’s parents then decided to enroll her in the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics where she learned how to balance schoolwork and swimming.

“My parents definitely pushed me to try to work both of those aspects (into) my life,” Mand said. “I think they balance each other out really well.”

Ultimately, Mand’s goal over the next two seasons is to train to swim in the Olympic trials and test her limits against some of the best swimmers in the world.

“I’ve been able to get to that level, if not personally, I’ve been a part of it just by being in the PAC-12,” Mand said. “Our last dual meet, we swam against Olympians, and that’s just a great experience. It takes you to the next level, swimming next to world record holders.”