Maddie Dando is no stranger to long days and late nights.

It simply comes with the territory as an independent swimmer.

But the Marian junior is at home when she gets in the water.

And she was in her element this past season.

Dando dropped her time in the 100-backstroke to 59.06 - under the national qualifying threshold - en route to her third District 11 title in the event.

In those moments, the sacrifices seem insignificant.

“You don’t get success unless you put the work in, and that’s just what I tell myself,” Dando said. “I always think about that feeling after the race, when you look up at the clock, and it’s exactly what you wanted, and you just felt great.

“It’s cloud 9, that post-race feeling. I have pictures of myself where I’m just beaming with a huge smile. Those are the moments you think about, just those races where you feel like it’s an out-of-body experience.”

Whenever - and wherever - Dando dips her toe in the water is a moment she savors.

That was especially true this season.

After swimming to her third district crown by a second-and-a-half, Dando looked primed for her best showing yet as the 13th seed in the 100 back at states.

Only that opportunity never came.

Dando was one of the countless athletes affected by the coronavirus outbreak after the PIAA shut down the Class 2A Swimming and Diving Championships, prematurely ending her season.

Though she never got a chance to hop in the pool at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium, Dando’s accomplishments helped her earn Times News/Lehigh Valley Health Network Swimmer of the Year honors.

But Dando is already thinking about what’s next.

“It’s never really over, because freshman year I was really excited with how I did, and it just kept getting better and better,” she said. “I’m already excited about what’s going to happen during my senior year.

“I already started to do home workouts since there really isn’t anything else to do. But I think about swimming all the time. I think about who my competitors might be; what I’m going to have to do (to beat them); what time I’m going to post. It’s just always on my mind, because it’s such a big part of my life.”

Maddie’s commitment to the sport is something her father and coach, Tim Dando, has witnessed firsthand.

“I’m extremely proud of her,” Tim said. “I’ve seen all the hard work she puts in - all the late night practices, leaving here at quarter-after-five and not getting back until 9:30 p.m., doing homework, then getting up and going to school to do it all over again.

“She’s one of the most dedicated athletes I’ve ever worked with, and even being my daughter, I’m very impressed.”

In addition to her district title in the 100 back and runner-up finish in the 200 IM, she also placed first in the 100 and 50 backstroke events at the Schuylkill League meet.

Dando’s time in the 100 back at districts was well under her winning 59.47 from 2019, when she won by a full two seconds.

It also eclipsed the 59.09 standard needed to qualify for nationals, which was also canceled because of COVID-19.

Maddie overcame an early season quad injury, but bounced back to be peaking at the right time.

“The quad injury was probably one of the worst things ever because your legs are so important in backstroke,” she said. “Kicking is my strong point, so when I hurt my leg, it was such a setback. And I was already not doing well at that point in the season, so it kind of had me beat down.

“But swimming is such a mental sport that you just have to stay right mentally. The physical aspect is definitely important, too, but I’ve lost races before they’ve even started because I just wasn’t in the right place.”

After placing 20th at states a year ago and 25th as a freshman, Dando wants to go back next season with the same purpose and enthusiasm that has been the driving force behind her career.

One she wants to finish on her terms.

“I honestly think swimming is one of the toughest sports, and the practices can be pretty hard,” Dando said. “But what gets me through is my teammates at practice, and just thinking of those moments where you love swimming so much, and everything comes together. That’s what I practice for.”

To a large degree, it’s what she lives for.

“It all comes down to self-motivation,” said Tim. “I can pat her on the back, and my wife can cheer her all we want, but it has to come from within.

“She’s got a strong will, and when she puts her mind to something, she wants to be the best at it.”