Senior Mackenzie Lopez has been known as a versatile soccer player, playing in any position needed. She also runs the 300 hurdles and 100 hurdles as well as throws javelin in Track and Field.
Mackenzie recently committed to throw javelin for the Division 1 University of Dayton (Ohio), where she said she will major in pre-med with integrated physiology.
Mackenzie’s athletic accomplishments span her high school career. In her freshmen year (2021), Mackenzie shared a state gold medal for the 4 x 100m relay with recent graduates Janae Bergey, Regi Wendt and Riley Murray. During her sophomore year (2022), her travel soccer team won Nationals in Greensboro (N.C.). Last year, she placed seventh in the state for javelin.
According to Mackenzie, the biggest highlight of her sports career was scoring 50 goals on the high school soccer team during her junior year.
“I enjoy watching Mackenzie work very hard to be the best she can be both physically and mentally,” said Milton Athletic Director Mr. Rod Harris. He added that he believes Mackenzie’s strength, speed and commitment make her a successful athlete.
Football was always a dream for Mackenzie, who said she wanted to be a girl on an all-boys team. Last fall, Mackenzie became the first female kicker on Milton’s football team.
“I guess with family and friends helping me, it kind of helped me achieve my football goal,” she said.
Mackenzie said in past years she has competed in basketball, indoor track and field and gymnastics. She added her growing soccer career led her to stop these sports.
According to Mackenzie, she has been playing soccer since the age of five and has been playing ever since. “I enjoy all the adventures [soccer brings],” she added.
“Soccer got more serious, so I started focusing more on that. I could obviously have a better chance of going to a better college for my education with soccer,” said Mackenzie. She added that wanting to pursue soccer in college changed when her academic career became her focus.
“I changed to wanting to go to college for javelin, since I enjoyed lifting weights and seeing my progress pay off in my javelin skills,” added Mackenzie.
“Sports are more of a mental game than everyone thinks,” Mackenzie said. Having a good environment and good attitude helps her get through sports a lot easier, she added.
Mackenzie said she has pre-game rituals of putting rolled-up pre-wrap tape around her leg and had a handshake with teammate “Number Nine,” Junior Madison Zieber before every soccer game.
