When Punahou's Flip-tastic Four of Brittany Beauchan, Rachel Cote, Christal Simms and Michelle Yoshida take to the pool in today's Local Motion Hawai'i State Swimming & Diving Championships 200-meter relay events, it will be just the second time this season they've competed as a team.

And if their performance at the Kalani Invitational last month was any indication, Act II could be one for the record books.

The quartet set meet records in both the 200-meter medley (1 minute, 45.29 seconds) and 200-meter freestyle (1:36.70) relays with Simms, Beauchan and Cote combining for four other individual records en route to a decisive victory for Punahou.

Heavily favored to win its 42nd title in 49 state championship meets, the Buffanblu are competing as much against the clock and history as they are their closest rival, 'Iolani.

"We're going to try for the national record," said Beauchan, one of the top prep breaststroke swimmers in the country. "We're more focused on our (team) goals than on the other teams. If we work hard and do our best, we can have good times and records. If we don't do our best and we still win, we still won't be satisfied."

Beauchan, a UCLA recruit and the designated cut-up in a group of self-described goofs, will end her prep career today, three years after transferring from Kalaheo. Last year, Beauchan, sickened by flu, turned in a solid performance at the state championships despite a 103-degree temperature.

Punahou head coach Jeff Meister said he considers the relay events the most important of the meet.

"People look at swimming as an individual sport, but in the relays you swim for the team," he said. "You depend on them and they depend on you. We take pride in the relay."

For all of the success the Punahou swimming and diving program has had in the past, Meister said this year's girls and boys teams are special in their ability to balance individual competitiveness with team unity. This is especially true for the girls relay swimmers.

During practice, when one is swimming and another is getting ready for the exchange, the other two are likely to be dancing to the high-energy music blasting out of the nearby sound system.

"When your face is in the water all day long, you need something to make it fun and to keep you going," Beauchan said.

Simms — just a sophomore but arguably the most talented swimmer on the team, according to Meister — agrees.

"We're all pretty goofy, but we know when to focus and get serious," Simms said. (She's hopes to break the record for the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle today.)

And, to be sure, Meister's practices require focus and a serious dose of commitment.

The team works out for two hours at a time, six days a week, with 90-minute workouts three mornings a week.

"Every day, we practice with some of the best swimmers in the state," said Cote, a junior who will also compete in the 100-meter backstroke and 100-meter butterfly events. "Our best competition comes in practice."

Because of the depth of talent on the Punahou squad, Meister said he didn't need to put his four aces in one hand. Today, however, he's leaving nothing to chance.

In the medley, Beauchan will handle the breaststroke leg, Cote will do the backstroke, Christal will do the butterfly, and Yoshida will push for the record on the freestyle lap.

The teammates have been practicing clean exchanges to ensure that precious fractions of seconds aren't lost.

"It's important when it comes down to tenths or hundredths of a second," Meister said.

Yoshida, who is also entered in the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle events, said she and her underclassmen teammates intend to send Beauchan out a winner.

"She's taught us a lot this year and she's always there to support us," Yoshida said. "Hopefully, we'll (the juniors) be able to do that for next year's underclassmen."

They may need a new record book.

The diving finals are at 11 a.m., with the swimming finals to start at 1 p.m. at Central O'ahu Regional Park pool.

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.