Marchand Earns Pac-12 Freshman, Men’s Swimmer of the Year Honors
TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devil freshman Léon Marchand has been tabbed as both the Pac-12 Men's Freshman of the Year and the Swimmer of the Year, the conference announced on Friday afternoon.
Marchand is fresh off a terrific postseason performance at both the conference tournament and the NCAA Championships. At the Pac-12 Championship in early March, Marchand was a four-time champion, taking home titles in the 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 breast and 800 free relay.
The freshman became the third individual Men's conference champion in the Bob Bowman era, steering the Sun Devils to a third-place finish, their best showing at the conference tournament in 27 years. He was also named the Swimmer of the Meet.
"Léon has had a spectacular season and has helped elevate every part of our program," head coach Bob Bowman said. "His work ethic, passion for his sport and humility are a unique and powerful combination. He truly deserves the honor of being named NCAA Swimmer of the Year."
Weeks later at the NCAA Championships, he won the 200 IM and 200 breast while helping the Sun Devils earn their highest finish in the team standings since 1982.
In the 200 IM, Marchand went 1:37.69 to set a new NCAA record, breaking Caeleb Dressel's time of 1:38.13 set in 2018. He was named SwimSwam's Swimmer of the Meet and the Freshman of the Year in their annual Swammy Awards.
He became ASU's first Men's Swimming National Champion since Attila Czene won the 200 IM in 2000. His efforts earned him the CSCAA Men's Swimmer of the Year award.
In four regular season meets this season, Marchand racked up 10 individual wins. At the midseason NC Invite in Greensboro, he set school records in the 200 fly, 200 IM, 400 IM and 800 free relay.
Through just one season in Tempe, the Toulouse, France, native owns the school's top four times in the 200 breast, the top three times in the 200 IM and the top five times in the 400 IM. He has also posted the nation's fastest times in both the 200 IM and 200 breast.
Marchand is the third Men's swimmer to earn Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors under Bowman, as Jack Dolan took home the award two seasons ago and Cameron Craig won it in 2017.