Mackenzie Maloney
Always Gives Her All
Mackenzie Maloney doesn’t hold anything back. When her name is called, she gives her all. The teenager has played a key role on successful teams in three different sports and is loved by her teammates and coaches. She’s a great student, too.
Ms. Maloney is thoroughly Huntington, having started her long journey in the district as a kindergarten student at Washington Primary School. She’s all grown up now and has made every one of her teachers proud.
The senior is finishing up an academic schedule that includes Pre-Calculus, Humanities, Bible as Literature, Forensics, Spanish V, Participation in Government, Economics and a credit bearing career internship.
Ms. Maloney has played on the Blue Devil soccer, basketball and lacrosse teams throughout high school, helping each squad reach the post-season. She’s also found time to be a Natural Helper, volunteer with the Special Olympics and at Huntington Village Lacrosse Club’s community day and participate in Huntington’s Relay For Life.
The Huntington teenager is headed to Wells College in Aurora, New York. She plans to major elementary education with a minor in special education. “I will be playing soccer, basketball and lacrosse at Wells,” she said.
“Mackenzie is such an amazing person student and athlete,” said junior Brooke Baade, a teammate on the soccer, basketball and lacrosse teams. “She has a great personality and is a great role model. She has great sportsmanship and helps others around her. She has helped me through so much during my high school years. She has helped me grow as an athlete and person. She is smart, talented, athletic and a well-rounded person.”
The teenager has a loyal group of friends, many of whom she has known since she was five years old and others that she has met along the way of her educational journey.
“Mackenzie is someone I’ve known since sixth grade,” said senior Anna Tesoriero, a lacrosse teammate. “She’s the type of girl who is so welcoming on and off the field to the new people she meets. When it comes to playing sports, she always gives 110 percent the minute she steps on the field.”
Ms. Maloney has enjoyed a very well-rounded experience over the past four years. “Some highlights of my time at Huntington High School would have to be back-to-back undefeated league championships in basketball, Natural Helpers retreats, being the first class to participate in Relay For Life for four years, being a Special Olympics volunteer at many events and helping make the winning homecoming floats three years in a row,” she said.
“Mackenzie is a dedicated, hardworking and very coachable player,” said Mike Kaplan, the head coach of the Huntington girls’ varsity basketball team. “She loved the game of basketball and was a pleasure to coach. She was always striving to get better.
The senior’s “favorite teachers” span the gamut of her time in the district. The group includes Jessica McVetty, Joanne Tures, Patricia Avelli and Joann Ferezi. “Mrs. Linda Roth and Mrs. Georgia McCarthy have been there for me whatever I need to talk, whether it’s sports or just life,” Ms. Maloney said.
As she prepares to graduate with fellow members of the Class of 2015, Ms. Mackenzie can keep her head held high with the knowledge she gave her best effort in the classroom and on all three sports teams.
“My advice to incoming freshmen is to be open minded and not scared to try something new,” Ms. Maloney said. “Get involved in as many activities, clubs and sports that Huntington offers and the friends you make and the memories you have will be the ones that’ll last a lifetime.”