Lindsey M. Manns Award

History: Composed in 2022 by the Manns and Porco Families 

When walking into any Forest Hills Swim Team event, the charming presence of Lindsey (Nikrandt) Manns was undeniably noticed. Her warm, inviting smile graced any and all members of the Forest Hills Community. Community is everything that Lindsey stood for. Being a lifelong resident of the area, Lindsey knew very well the distinctive nature of our neighborhood, as she was an active member of the community. At the Forest Hills Pool, Lindsey discovered her love of swimming. Here, this passion was fostered through her time on the swim team and as a lifeguard. This passion continued throughout her high school career, where she competed on the swim team of her alma mater, Woodland Hills. Upon graduating in 1995, her compassion for others carried over into her time at Pennsylvania State University, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education. She then went on to receive an additional Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Point Park University in 2003, while simultaneously working as a teacher at the Children’s School. In 2003, along with her husband, Gary, she purchased the home where her mother was raised on Glasgow Road in Forest Hills. To exemplify her love for the art of swimming and the Forest Hills community, Lindsey raised her children, Jackson and Carson, as patrons of the Forest Hills Pool since 2005. 

After her diagnosis of Melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer, in 2012, and later remission from her illness, Lindsey again became an active member of the Forest Hills Swim Team community as an ESA representative. After receiving a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Capella University in 2017, she decided to further spread her love of swimming by becoming the Assistant Coach of the Swim Team alongside Head Coach Sara Kennedy. During her tenure as coach, Lindsey was lovingly referred to as “Coach Mom” by not only her sons but by countless other members of the team. “Mom” perfectly described the role that she played on the team. She took the time to learn each and every swimmer individually, as she familiarized herself with their strengths and personalities, and like a mother, she tended to their needs. For example, she went so far as to purchase swimming necessities including goggles for members of the team in need. Though she only coached the team for one year, her legacy as a coach lives on and her impact is far from unnoticed.

In May of 2019, after nearly seven years of remission, Lindsey’s Melanoma returned. While this diagnosis shocked Lindsey, she remained an active member of the swim team community. Despite feeling uneasy on her feet, suppressed by symptoms from her treatments, and often afraid to show her newly shaved head, Lindsey continued to make enthusiastic appearances throughout the 2019 season. This was a testament to Lindsey’s relentless attitude and consistently positive outlook on life. Even after her death in June of 2021, Lindsey’s presence lives on through members of the team who persevere through adversity, who encourage others, who have a strong love for swimming, and, most importantly, always have a smile on their faces.