Macie’s parade
BUTLER TWP — Lettering in four varsity sports as a freshman is no problem for Butler’s Macie McLister.
If she could, she’d be lettering in five.
Macie competed in cross country and golf for the Golden Tornado during the fall, did indoor track and field in the winter and competed in outdoor track in the spring. The autumn months were challenging, opting to do two sports in the same season while transitioning from junior high to high school.
“I worked with the golf coach (Brent Piccola) and we supported Macie’s desire to do both sports,” Butler cross country coach Rick Davanzati said. “There were only two or three occasions when there was a golf match and cross country meet on the day.”
On those days, Macie said she decided which event to compete in “based on which team needed me the most against that opponent. Otherwise, I just alternated, did golf the first time, cross country the next.
“It was challenging, doing both sports at once. There were days I had to get up early and do my homework before I went to school. It was hard, but it was worth it. I’d do it all over again,” she added.
Macie also competed in four sports in junior high, playing soccer, running cross country, playing basketball and running track. She did traveling soccer as well.
Despite scoring five to 10 goals in soccer as a seventh-grade midfielder, she gave up the sport for golf.
“It was a hard decision and I miss soccer,” Macie said. “Playing travel soccer, I made a lot of friends there. But there is no golf team in junior high and it’s a sport I really wanted to try.
“Playing midfield and doing all that running, I know that helped build my stamina for other sports.”
Butler girls track and field coach John Williams said Macie ran a leg of the e4x800 relay along with the 800.
“The 800 will be her race,” Williams said. “She’s got some good competition here with Ava Brewster, Makayla (McLister, her older sister) and Madi McGarrah. They will all help her get faster.
“I love the fact she does other sports. I’ve always believed in kids playing whatever sport is in season. I ask Macie about her golf and her face just lights up. She loves it.”
Macie averaged a 40 for nine holes in golf last fall. Piccola said she will be playing in the Isaly’s League this summer.
“She enjoys playing golf with her father and grandfather,.” Piccola said. “I think they steered her toward golf. But I don’t think she has any regrets.”
“They wanted me to give it a try and I’m glad I did,” Macie said. “I have to give (Butler golf teammate) Paige Ponteous a lot of credit there. She’s the leader of our team and she works with the younger golfers. She’s been a big help to the entire team.”
Davanzati pointed out that a junior high cross country course 3,000 to 3,200 meters, compared to 5,000 in high school.
“There’s more than a mile difference there,” he said. “That’s a big adjustment for a freshman to make. Macie has been a work in progress that way. But she was among our eight top female runners most of the season.
“When she had golf practice or a match, she would come to our course afterward and get her running in. Brett Brady played golf and did cross country here and he did that. Macie’s doing the same thing.”
Piccola recalled Macie shooting a 37 in one match last fall.
“I don’t know if she went running after that match, but she probably did,” the golf coach said. “I remember in August, we’d be on the golf course in the heat and she would still go run for an hour or so afterward ... such a dedicated kid.”
Macie competes in the middle distances in track and field.
“I love all the sports,” she said. “Our cross country team should be really good next year. We have a chance to get to the state meet and I want to help us do that. I’m hoping more girls come out for the golf team. It’s a lot of fun and you don’t have to be a good golfer to join. You learn as you go.
“We all support each other. That’s why I do this.”
