Sandia Prep’s Manzanares ready to launch into his senior basketball season
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — As a multi-sport athlete, rising Sandia Prep senior Mac Manzanares ’22 could have lost out on not one sports season this school year but two, had the COVID-19 pandemic prevailed.
The school’s dedication to keeping student-athletes in action paid off, as Prep’s varsity boys basketball team made it to the state championship, only to lose by two points. Still, Manzanares was one of two Prep players recently voted to Class 3A’s all-state basketball first team. Earlier this spring, he competed in cross country.
“Prep has done everything they could in the confusing times,” Manzanares said. “In January, we didn’t know if we were going to be able to play, and by the first week of May, we had completed multiple sports seasons. It was impressive to see how it was handled.”
During the pandemic, Manzanares worked out by himself when he couldn’t practice with teammates. In his time at Prep, Manzanares also has competed in flag football and track. Balancing academics and athletics isn’t easy, he added, but Prep encourages students to pursue their passions.
“I try to do as much of my work as I can during school hours and before practice so I can commit my full time to sports after school,” Manzanares says.
Manzanares hopes to play basketball in college, but knowing how competitive it is, he’ll be just as happy with an academic scholarship.
Meanwhile, he’s ready to launch into his senior year in the fall and continue staying active.
“My favorite thing about Prep is the support I get from the staff and students,” he explained. “They love to help out the sports teams, and I love the spirit that everyone has.”
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.
