Not many people can say they are a committed D1 athlete for sailing at Tulane University. But Mary Carter is one of them. She is the first to commit and sign for sailing in college out of the senior sailors at LFHS. Throughout her time sailing for Lake Forest she has been an incredible sailor and a leader for the Lake Forest Sailing Team.
Carter committed a few weeks ago and, ever since, it’s been smooth sailing. She has been training hard for the last few weeks to prepare for the fall season at Tulane. Carter has sailed her whole life and she coaches young sailors throughout the summer.
“I had spent so much of my time working to become a better sailor that when it came time to make the decision whether to continue my career or not, I made the decision that I owe it to myself to try it. I’ve found my best friends through sailing, and the college sailing community seems so cool and tight-knit. That made it really appealing,” said Carter.
Carter’s good friend, Chloe York, expresses how inspiring she has been to watch over the years and emphasizes how well Carter was able to balance her friendships while competing on a competitive sailing team.
“She is such an inspiration to me. Her hard work and dedication to sailing are truly admirable, and it’s been such a blessing to watch her succeed over the last few years. I can’t wait to see her thrive at Tulane next year and become a leader in the sailing community,” said York.
Carter has spent much of her life sailing with her team, which brought about some unique challenges, as she was often the only girl on the team.
“It was definitely the most unique sport I did growing up. Most of the time, I was on an all-boys team and had trouble making friends that way. But as I got older and spent more years training with that same team, we formed way closer bonds and overall just performed better that way,” said Carter.
Carter’s teammate of ten years, Charlie Gish, praises Carter for her infectious energy and team spirit. This iconic duo has had many achievements together over the years. They have won many races and helped lead their team to national championships.
“On land, Mary’s infectious energy and team spirit make people want to come to practice every day. On the water, Mary is a role model for both the newer and older kids and is largely responsible for the team’s success over the last four years,” said Gish.
Carter is excited about the next chapter of her life at Tulane University. She comments on what aspects of the school excited her. She speaks highly of the team atmosphere and how she was drawn to their energy.
“I always wanted to check out Tulane, and it was on my college list. But the way the team treated me when I was there and showed me what it would be like to be a student and athlete at that school really confirmed it for me. I knew that it was an amazing opportunity and that I would be successful at Tulane,” said Carter.
Carter worked hard to achieve the status of being one of the best sailors in the nation.
“Well, it is a lot of work, but I don’t always view it that way. My mindset throughout the season is to put in as much as you want to get out of it, and that definitely shows throughout each sailor. In the Spring, we can practice up to seven days a week, but when I do that with a team that feels like family, the whole process of leading up to nationals is so much more fun. That’s what makes all the time and sacrifices all worth it,” said Carter.
Maddie Rode, Carter’s teammate of ten years, comments on Carter’s outgoing personality and determination.
“Mary is very fun and outgoing; she keeps everyone excited and in good spirits. She strives to see the team succeed and work as hard as they can, and her determination is very encouraging to all of us,” said Rode.
