Mackenzie Siebert is one of those players that is so much better than she thinks she is, Lake Region varsity girls’ lacrosse Coach David Keenan says. 

“Makenzie has tremendous speed and has worked hard each summer with the Maineiax club program to bring her lacrosse skills up to the next level,” the coach said. “She is off to a good start this season and just had her best game against a very strong Greely team last week (scoring three goals and adding an assist).”

In recognition of her strong work ethic, determination, commitment and good sportsmanship, Mackenzie is this week’s Boosters and Hancock Lumber “Player of the Week.” Each week, a Lake Region athlete is recognized for his/her dedication (does more than what is asked), work ethic, coachability and academic good standing. Recipients receive a specially-designed t-shirt, sponsored by Hancock Lumber.

Name: Mackenzie Siebert

Hometown: Naples

Year in School: Senior

Parents: Amy and Brian Siebert

Sports you play: Soccer and lacrosse this year

School groups/honors: National Honor Society, Varsity Club

Why did you choose lacrosse? I started in seventh grade only because all my friends convinced me to try it out. I continue to play because it’s what I love to do.

What do you enjoy most about lacrosse? Definitely when all the hard work pays off in games. It’s so exciting and uplifting to play in a game where the effort from everyone is at 100% and we follow through with what we’ve been working hard at in practice. 

How has competing in sports changed you as a person? The biggest impact of being on a sports team has had on me is knowing that I have a purpose and a place. Being a good leader has always been a goal of mine so when I recognized that I had an important role on the teams I was involved in, it helped boost my confidence. Having confidence is an important characteristic when on the field making decisions and controlling the play. Confidence is also something I had been lacking socially, so having that security within sports helped me find my place and carry that outside of sports.

During this period of Covid-19, what has been the most difficult adjustment? Well when you’re a player who typically doesn’t get a sub for the whole game while playing midfield, having the mask on to play was awful. Within the first few minutes of the game, the entire mask was soaked in sweat so every time you took a breath in the mask would suction to your mouth. I’m sure you could imagine it was a good time. 

What is one of your most memorable sports moments? The quarterfinal game my sophomore year against Winslow. This was called the Cinderella play in the newspaper, but we were losing and the game seemed out of our reach up until the second half a few of our attack players scored. Then, I believe it was Katie Keenan who fed me the three beautiful passes to me leading to three goals, probably within a crazy short amount of time that tied us up. We ended up winning to go on to semifinals, but this game was definitely one of the best comebacks we’ve had.

What is your most disappointing sports memory? My junior year when we got the news that spring sports were canceled. I was absolutely devastated. 

How has sports prepared you for your future? It has sort of forced me to develop good time management skills. When you’re a three-sport athlete who prioritizes doing well in school, it can be extremely difficult to balance your schedule. Along with fitting in athletics, as well as time for school and family, as a senior in high school you want to experience fun outside of school with friends, as well. My plans were put together a week in advance with little time to spare. This is going to prepare me for the time management skills needed for the demands of college and life after that.

Name a coach who has made a difference in your life and in what way? I am very thankful for all of the coaches I’ve had along the way. It sounds corny, but I really wouldn’t be where I am, and the kind of person I am today, without every single one of them. The heaping amount of encouragement and constructive criticism I’ve received has pushed me to perform on the field better than I ever thought I could have. The one coach who stands out a little extra would have to be Coach Pete Webb. He has coached me from the high school level all the way back to my youth travel soccer years. Coach Webb is the type of coach who doesn’t strictly feel like a coach, but also a friend, someone to look up to, and a great person to ask for guidance and advice. My sophomore year was the year he stepped down from being the head coach to an assistant coach, and during those last three seasons he was able to talk with everyone one-on-one all the time to give advice and spread his knowledge. He is such a kind, giving person. A great example is during the 7v7 tournament a few years back. All of our sleeping gear got soaked because of a storm. He selflessly loaded his truck with our soaking wet gear and drove all the way to a laundromat to dry it for us when we got back from a game. He also always stays updated outside of our season, he even comes to my lacrosse games. This is just a glimpse of how great of a coach he has been but if there was one thing I want him to know is that we notice how much he truly cares, and we greatly appreciate it. He is someone I’ll remember in the future, thinking back about my high school years. 

What are your future goals? Next year, I will be attending Saint Joe’s College to major in biology and minor in criminal justice, as well as playing lacrosse. My career goal is to become a forensic scientist.