MARY LUCAS SWIMS HER WAY ACROSS LIFE'S OBSTACLES

With a team full of all-conference and all-state swimmers at South Mecklenburg High School the loudest cheers are reserved for a young lady that will unfortunately never have the fastest time or win any big races.  How can that be?  The race winners are the ones that are supposed to hear the loudest cheers, right?   Not at South Mecklenburg High School.  The real champion of the swim team is sixteen year old Mary Lucas, a swimmer that battles some of life's toughest obstacles to swim with her peers.

Mary Lucas had a   blood clot in the left side of  her  brain which caused a stroke right after she was born.  It  left  her with hemiparesis on the right side of  her  body.   Mary can walk but  her right leg and foot are much weaker and she does not  have functional use of her right hand.  She was also left  with a seizure disorder but  has now been seizure free for eleven years. 

Amazingly Mary has chosen swimming as her outlet for recreation.   

 "My family led me to start swimming at an early age at our neighborhood pool and I’ve been swimming ever since," Mary said.

Now as a high school junior Mary, the daughter of Matthew and Laura Lucas,is one of the most popular swimmers on the South Meck Swim Team.  The opportunity to belong to the team means the world to her.

" Being a part of the South Meck swim team means a lot because you get to know a lot of different people.  We’re not just a team – we’re a big family. "  

 That big family and the support they give to Mary is what keeps this young lady working hard in the pool.

 "I think the support from my friends and family is one of the big reasons I still swim.  I’ve done other sports but this is the only one I’ve stuck with because I like the environment.  I like the fact I’m around a lot of people. " 

Mary's favorite stroke in freestyle although she admits those flip turns can sometimes be a challenge. 

 "Sometimes I mess up on my flip turns and I add 10 seconds to my time!" 

Head Coach Leslie Berens can live with those extra ten seconds because she is so moved to watch the determination of Mary in the pool.  Berens, the mother of an Olympic Champion, Tim Berens, can't quit talking about  Mary's efforts.

"Mary is an inspiration when she swims. That is all you can say.  There is not a dry eye in the place when people watch her swim and realize what she is accomplishing.  I tell the other swimmers "don't tell me something is hard and that you cant do it..after watching Mary swim." She is a joy and a delight and has a smile on her face at every meet.  All the teams embrace her not just South Meck!"

Clearly it takes a lot of courage for Mary to swim for the Sabres and compete each match against swimmers that have full use of their limbs. We asked Mary who provides her with  the courage to participate.

"My friends, my family and my teammates.  I’ve had a lot of disappointments in other areas of my life and they’re always there to help me through it no matter what. " 

Spoken like a true champion!

 Mary points out a few of her friends that have been there for her the entire way.
  
 " Katy, Sarah, Angela and Seth.  I’ve known them all for a long time and they’re always there for me whenever I need them.  I don’t know what I’d be without them. They’ve helped me through so much and I’d do anything for them. " 

Away from the pool, Mary also works hard in the classroom.

" My favorite subject is English.  I love to read and I love learning thru stories about different cultures. " 

  Mary  moved to the Occupational Course of Study this year and just made A/B Honor Roll for the first time at South Meck!    

" I love the new program even though I don’t get to see my friends as much and I now realize that I will not get to fulfill my dream of going to a four year college (specifically UNC). "

Like she has done in other areas of her life, Mary refuses to let not attending UNC keep her down. She has recently developed plans to attend a community college and become a nurse.  Just as she has done in swimming, Mary will find a way to inspire so many others through her commitment to nursing.

The South Charlotte Sports Report salutes Mary Lucas for her incredible courage and determination to succeed. She is a true champion that our community can be very proud of!