Broken Arrow Gatorade POY Mackenzie McGuire feels ‘at home’ with Kent State
BROKEN ARROW, Okla. (BVM) — Following a trip to the state quarterfinals, Broken Arrow outside hitter Mackenzie McGuire was named Gatorade Oklahoma Volleyball Player of the Year. The Broken Arrow senior is only the third player from the school to win the award and the first since 1998.
“Mac has always been a hard-working player who leads by example, but she’s also a vocal leader of her team,” Broken Arrow head coach Ian Bullen said in a Gatorade press release. She has been very solid under pressure and often played her best on the biggest stages.”
During the 2021-22 campaign, McGuire helped lead the Tigers to an overall record of 24-11. Also during her final season, she had 58 service aces, 49 blocks and posted a kill percentage of 43%. To go along with the Gatorade Player of the Year, McGuire finished with a first-team all-state selection and was a three-time Frontier Valley Conference first-team member.
Congratulations to senior Mackenzie McGuire on being named the 2021 Gatorade's Oklahoma Volleyball Player of the Year. McGuire is the third Tiger to win this award, following two-time winner Sara Kincaid (1997, 1998) and Cora Kincaid (1995).
📰 https://t.co/xcZbIuEA4r pic.twitter.com/q76R5hbghf— Broken Arrow Athletics (@batigersports) January 11, 2022
Before all the accolades and success on the court, a career in volleyball wasn’t a sure thing. But with a little help from her parents, volleyball became the sport that she loves so dearly today.
“I started playing volleyball when I was in the fourth grade,” McGuire said. “I was trying to find a sport I really enjoyed and I was bouncing around from sport to sport. I just stuck with volleyball…and I’ve been playing ever since.”
“My aunt played volleyball growing up, McGuire said. “[My dad] prepared me…I was like, ‘Yeah sure, let’s do it!’ and that’s kind of what got me started.”
Prior to her time at Broken Arrow, McGuire started at the club level. There she looked to learn different things from different coaches and it has benefited her greatly.
“Having different coaches that teach you different things, you can get different tools that you need that can help you get better [at your craft],” McGuire said.
One coach that she has learned much from is current Broken Arrow head volleyball coach Ian Bullen.
“I would say it was one of the easiest jobs ever [coaching Mackenzie], Coach Bullen said. “As a coach I think it puts a little more pressure on you. Because you want to do everything you can to challenge every player. It’s easy to challenge the common player, but it’s a little more of a challenge for a coach [to challenge] an exceptional player. She brought out the best in all the players on our team, but she really brought out the best in our coaching staff as well.”
Continuing to be coached and pushed to do her best, McGuire ended up winning Gatorade Oklahoma Volleyball Player of the Year.
“I woke up and Coach Bullen had texted me,” McGuire said. “Then I went straight to my email and I read the announcement and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh!’”
Truly a great accomplishment for her and the school. Not only is McGuire a student athlete, but also a standout student and person. In the classroom, she maintained a 3.94 GPA and volunteered as a tutor for a special needs student at Broken Arrow. McGuire also volunteered for the Special Olympics and as a youth volleyball coach.
Now with her volleyball career at Broken Arrow complete, McGuire is ready to start her collegiate career with the Kent State Golden Flashes.
Huge shoutout to incoming freshman outside hitter Mackenzie McGuire on being named Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year!!⚡️👏🏽 #BeGolden pic.twitter.com/08ZzyoHraz
— Kent State Volleyball (@KentStVball) January 12, 2022
“There was a lot of pressure from my family, but good pressure and they helped out a lot,” McGuire said of the college selection process. “My grandma helped out a lot and helped make it easier. I started visiting schools and [I wanted to see] how everything felt for me. And [when] I went to Kent, just “the feel” there it just felt like home.”
When she sets foot in the Buckeye State this fall, she’ll aim to help the Golden Flashes rebound from a 12-18 overall record and reach their first-ever Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship.
“As a freshman, I really want to be a starter, but I’m going to have to work hard for that,” McGuire said.
Until then, she’ll finish up the final year of what’s been a memorable high school experience at Broken Arrow.
“[I’m so thankful for] all the people I’ve met,” McGuire said. “Everyone is so kindhearted I feel like that’s what I’ll remember the most.”
