Junior Maddie Rode’s passion for sailing began at a remarkably young age. She started learning the ropes and sailing out on the water when she was just four years old at her lake house in Michigan. Since then, water has always been a focus in her life, filled with countless hours spent on boats.
“Right off the bat, I always wanted to be the best and get as good as possible, which definitely drove my passion and excitement about the sport,” said Rode.
Her competitive nature thrives in the world of sailing. This October, she achieved one of her biggest accomplishments, winning a race at San Diego Girl’s Nationals.
“This was a big milestone for me because it was a national event, and it already took a lot of hard work and preparation to get to Nationals–even more to win a race when I was there,” said Rode.
Sailing requires a considerable time commitment, with the team frequently traveling for races and connecting with other teams around the nation. The LFHS sailing team participates in significantly long practices and is out of town almost every weekend during the fall and spring. Maddie spends her weekdays preparing for races that she competes in on the weekends, often times in new places she has never been.
“My favorite trip that I went on was to Washington last year for Nationals,” Rode said. “I’ve never been that far west, so it was super interesting. All of the people attending were very good.”
In addition to improving her skill, Rode has built long-lasting friendships through sailing.
“Since our team spends so much time together, both sailing and outside of sailing, we get super close and all become best friends,” said Rode.
The sailing team stands unique to the majority of other sports, the team consists of both boys and girls. This diversity not only enhances the team’s dynamics but also encourages a wider range of skills and perspectives.
“It’s such a cool relationship. Even though we have boys and girls on the team, we still build the close relationships with each other that other sports teams have,” said Rode.
Rode’s goal in the future is to continue her journey with sailing in college. She looks up to her past teammates who are now sailing at colleges around the nation such as Tulane and Brown.
“A lot of people who used to be on my team are now sailing in college, and I think it’s really impressive,” said Rode.
