U-M Student-Athlete Spotlight: Mira Shane
1/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Following the signing of U-M's third recruiting class, all nine members are being featured in a student-athlete spotlight, breaking down each future Wolverine, on and off the field.
Mira Shane is a three-time varsity letterwinner (2012-14) and will complete her final season at Princeton High School (Princeton, N.J.) this spring. As a goalie, she helped lead Princeton High School to a combined record of 49-12 in three seasons and three straight county tournaments, making it to finals her freshman and junior year.
As a junior, she was voted one of the top 12 goalies in New Jersey. She was also awarded All-Colonial Conference first team honors by the Trenton Times and the Trentonian, as well as All-Area first team recognition by the Trenton Times. During her junior season, she reached the 400-save milestone and made a game-high 13 saves during the New Jersey State Sectional finals. Shane turned away 163 shots and recorded a goals against average of 9.0, leading her team to an overall record of 17-4.
As a sophomore, she made 135 total saves and averaged six goals against, leading her team to an overall record of 18-4. Following the season, she was named All-Colonial Valley Conference first team by the Trenton Times.
In her first season on varsity in 2012, Shane notched 175 saves and a goals against average of 9.0, leading the team to an overall record of 14-4. She was one of two freshmen to be awarded All-Colonial Valley Conference second team accolades by the Trentonian.
She also played goalie for the Ultimate Goal Lacrosse club team. In addition to playing lacrosse, Mira was a four-year varsity letterwinner for her high school basketball team.
Off the field, Mira is a Gold Key recipient, which is awarded to the top 10 percent of her class. She also enjoys creating music and beatboxing.
ACCORDING TO MIRA
 | Mira Shane Goalie Princeton, N.J. Princeton High School |
What attracted you to the University of Michigan?
"My pull to Michigan came from my dad's constant cheers on college football Saturdays. Little did I know that his wonderful shrieks and screams would turn into my own love for the school. I was drawn to Michigan's academic excellence, but also the enthusiasm of the coaching staff to make sure music and lacrosse would be a possibility at a high level. Since my life would be unbalanced without either music or lacrosse, it is lovely that at Michigan I'll have the capabilities to pursue both passions!"
What are your thoughts about continuing to help Michigan build its women's lacrosse program?
"I have an awesome feeling about what the foundation has developed as a core and what the additions can add to the program. It will be a true privilege to be a part of a program that's so new and oriented on winning a championship! There is nothing but hard work and passion that runs through the women's lacrosse program and I cannot wait to be a part of it!"
What do you like about Michigan/Ann Arbor from what you've seen so far?
"Growing up in Princeton, New Jersey, I always thought that there would be no place like it. So much that the Wizard of Oz's catchphrase of "there's no place like home" would be my motto when searching for schools, but that is not the case with Michigan. I've never felt so at home anywhere else actually. The people, the food, the spirit and heart are only some of the things that make me love Michigan and the cultured town surrounding it."
What is your favorite lacrosse moment of all-time?
"Honestly, it depends on the day. But today I'm remembering the first time my dad ever saw me in the cage. I'd never been a goalie before let alone been playing lacrosse for very long, but I had joined a club team to get some serious practice in. My coach had been doing the typical move of rotating players in as goalie so they could give it a shot, but then realize you had to be crazy to stand in front of girls whipping shots at you. So, my team was without anyone willing to be that crazy until I came along. My dad had been searching for me on the field and asking other parents if they knew where I'd gone, but he simply forgot to check the cage, which would be my permanent home from then on."
How did you first get involved in lacrosse?
"A friend of my mom's loved lacrosse so much that she decided to give me two field sticks to try out and maybe throw around with a little. She didn't realize it but I found a love just like hers for the game that has became so essential that I would take lacrosse balls hitting me repeatedly just to keep playing."
Do you have any talents or hobbies that you're willing to share? If so, please explain.
"I like to make a lot of weird noises with my mouth that most people refer to as beatboxing! At first it was simply a way to annoy my mom at the dinner table until I realized that I could create real music out of all these noises. I've gone on to beatbox in my A Cappella group for all different styles of music but most importantly, the Michigan fight song is officially in my beatbox repertoire for all intensive purposes, as well as a bit of freestyle rapping."
Who is your role model, and why?
"My mother, father and best friend are tied in the running for my role models. Day in and day out they serve others for the sole reward of a 'thank you.' They aspire to better the situation of others on a 24/7 basis with only the intention to love those around them. It is an honor to have them in my life to find the importance of gratitude, respect and friendship ... plus they are just some of the coolest people I know. It's definitely an aspiration to be cool, but to also be the best Mira possible every day."
What do you enjoy doing when you're not playing lacrosse?
"When I'm not in some sort of uniform, I love making some sort of music whether this is with my mouth, voice, saxophone or piano. There's pure bliss when I get performance butterflies or the chills while creating music that makes life outside lacrosse equally enjoyable!"
Favorite food ... Brisket with a side of spinach
Favorite band/artist ... Frédéric Chopin, The Beatles and Drake
Favorite movie ... Billy Elliot
Favorite TV show ... Gilmore Girls
Favorite book ... The Catcher In the Rye
Favorite professional athlete ... Serena Williams
Favorite place to visit/vacation ... Ann Arbor, Michigan
Favorite sport besides lacrosse ... Basketball
Favorite holiday ... April Fool's Day
• Previous Spotlight: Megan Schulte
