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Mary-Kate Wayne made her title as a swimmer at Milan.
But that’s not her solely sport.
She additionally throws the shot-put and discus for the varsity’s monitor and discipline workforce.
“I did it in middle school, but I couldn’t my freshman year because I tried water polo,” she stated. “I went back to throwing my sophomore year.”
She did fairly properly in monitor final spring, inserting sixth within the Huron League within the shot.
But the worth of monitor goes far past that for Wayne.
“It really helps me to not burn out,” she stated. “Sometimes you get tired of swimming. It’s good to have something that’s not pool related.”
Getting out of the water to get grounded paid off for Wayne.
She positioned second on the Division 3 state finals within the breaststroke and was named the Most Valuable Swimmer on the Monroe County Championships.
Wayne has been named the Monroe County Region Girls Swimmer of the Year by The Monroe News for the second straight yr.
Even Milan swimming coach Dan Hiekka agreed that getting out of the pool was for good for Wayne.
“Mary had a tremendous season,” he stated. “It all started last spring as she swam when still doing track. She had a tremendous summer USA season and put in the work to get ready for the fall.”
Milan adopted Wayne’s result in win the Huron League for the twenty sixth consecutive season and cruise to the county championship.
Those had been the issues she talked about first when requested about her season.
“The season went amazing,” she stated. “As a team, we really came together and gave it our best. We definitely had the team aspect, the girls and the coaching staff.”
Wayne was voted the workforce captain by her teammates.
“This year Mary embraced her role as a captain and was a tremendous leader by example,” Heikka stated. “Mary is not the most vocal, but her performances in the pool at practice and racing spoke volumes.
“She showed up every practice to get better and helped lead our team to great heights. “
That was evident at the county championships.
She recorded a lifetime best of 1:02.45 to win the butterfly and went a season-best 1:06.81 to rule the breaststroke. If that wasn’t enough, she was part of a pair of winning relays.
“Our team did great at both the league and the county meet,” she stated. “I am really proud of how well we did.”
Wayne stated the Milan swimmers take pleasure of their string of Huron League titles that’s closing in on three a long time.
“The group of girls coming up is strong,” she stated. “I think they will hold it together. There is more to come. Each year we look for the next one. It’s something that we adore.”
In addition to her runner-up end within the breaststroke at state, Wayne positioned fifteenth within the butterfly and helped Milan’s medley relay take tenth.
The Big Reds wound up twelfth within the workforce standings.
Wayne went 1:05.49 in her signature occasion.
“The girl who won it (Ellery Chandler of East Grand Rapids) is committed to Arkansas,” Wayne stated. “She won by a lot. It wasn’t really close.”
Chandler was clocked at 1:01.6.
Wayne knew the race was for second place.
“I was seeded second, but there were some other girls right behind me,” she stated. “I just tried to stay as close as I could to the girl who was seeded first.”
She was completely satisfied when she seemed on the scoreboard and noticed she was second.
“I was sad I was done at Milan, but not too sad because I know I’ll be swimming next year,” she stated.
The daughter of Kevin and Shannon Wayne of Milan dedicated in early November to compete at Wayne State subsequent yr.
“I definitely liked the team aspect and the coaching staff there,” she stated. “Their swimming program is strong. … I think I will be going into nursing, but I’m not 100 percent sure yet.”
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