Weatherford High School senior Mackenzie Lankford was practically born into sports.
While her mother and father enjoyed athletics in high school, it was natural for Lankford to follow in their footsteps.
“My parents were athletic and I tried dancing and gymnastics when I was younger. It wasn’t really my thing, so I went to sports,” Lankford said. “I tried everything. I played soccer, softball and all of them and that’s what I like to do.
“My mom played volleyball, softball and track, and my dad played basketball, football and baseball.”
Lankford described her parents as her biggest influences, partially because of the support system they have provided her throughout her youth.
“They allow me to do all of this and whatever I want to do, they are there to help me,” she said. “They come to all of my games and go to practice with me.”
‘Mack’, as she is known to friends and most WHS sports enthusiasts, began playing sports at an early age and found herself balancing volleyball, basketball, softball and track in middle school. She made the decision to cut off softball, taking a two-year hiatus.
In mid-March of last year, Lankford got a phone call asking her to play softball once again, and she accepted.
“They needed a certain position and asked me if I wanted to play,” Mack said. “I had actually wanted to play before they asked me because I missed it a lot.”
Lankford will continue to manage all four sports her senior season.
“It’s tough but it’s still fun,” the senior said. “Basketball is my main sport and I’m trying to play that in college.”
This summer, Mack prepares for the upcoming year playing with her select basketball team, which practices at least twice a week. On top of that, she runs at least two miles a day and shoots hoops daily.
While sports are her main love, Lankford also has a fondness for academics, especially mathematics.
“My favorite area is math. I even want to be a math teacher or a veternarian when I graduate from college,” she said.
In her spare time, Lankford enjoys reading, watching movies and hanging out with friends.
Mack knows she has worked hard to get where she is and knows that she needs to continue those efforts to succeed.
“My dad tells me this quote every time before a game and it’s ‘Beat ‘em so you can win,” Lankford said. “He’s done that forever.”
In order to prepare before a contest, Lankford takes a more mental, methodical approach.
“I just think about what I want to get done in a game and what I need to do to win,” the senior said. “I also listen to music, but having a plan helps me focus.”
Lankford’s athletic efforts helped take WHS varsity volleyball, basketball and softball teams to the playoffs, including a regional finals run in softball last season. She hopes to expand on that in her final year at Weatherford.
“I want to make it past the first round of the playoffs in any of the sports, because we didn’t make it past that in volleyball or basketball,” Lankford said. “I suffered a knee injury in track so that kept me from running as well as I could have.
“We got the farthest in softball and hopefully we’ll make it farther this year. I’m just excited to play again.”
Individual honors were bestowed on the senior with frequency during her junior year, named the District 3-5A Offensive Player of the Year in basketball and receiving the same designation as one of the All-Parker County superlatives. Also making the list of top honorees in volleyball, Lankford anchored one side of the net for the Lady Roos and was selected the district’s Outstanding Hitter of the Year. The sprinter won both the 200-meter and 400-meter races at the District meet before the knee injury halted her run to the state meet. Inclusion on academic all-district teams have been forthcoming, as well.
Despite the workout regimen Lankford will undergo through the summer months, she will also enjoy some leisure time. In between preparations for the upcoming seasons, Lankford will be splitting summer vacation trips between Orlando, Fl., Alabama and Tennessee.
Some Lankford Favorites:
Sports figure: Steve Nash
Musical artist: Faith Hill
Actor: Julia Roberts
Food: pizza
Sports
Related Photos
-
SALLY SEXTON/DEMOCRAT PHOTO
WHS senior looks forward to (another) busy year of athletics
- Sports
-
-
Coyotes sweep McLennan
By the break on Wednesday, the Weatherford College women had established a solid lead over McLennan College at the Crumm Graber Athletic Center, and showed no signs of letting up, extending their lead to a 30-point margin midway through the second half.
-
Sports briefs - Feb. 9, 2012
WHS soccer evens district record with win over Lamar
Staff Report
The Weatherford High School boys soccer teams traveled to Arlington to take on Lamar in District 4-5A play. In varsity action, the Roos came out focused and sharp offensively, scoring three goals early en route to a 5-2 win. The Roos took the game by a final of 5-2.
-
Weatherford College cagers in mix at conference mid-point
While Saturday's wins over Temple College by the Weatherford College men and women provided Nos. 759 and 800 in the record book for WC head coach Bob McKinley, they also provided a boost for the Coyotes squads as they head into the last half of North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference (NTJCAC) play.
-
Sports briefs - Feb. 8, 2012
Aledo closes out Azle for perfect District 5-4A run
Staff Report
The Ladycats, with a district championship secured and a bi-district match against Southwest already scheduled, took care of business in Azle on Tuesday, cruising past the Lady Hornets, 34-23.
-
McKinley nets 800th win
Bob McKinley hit a major coaching milestone Saturday afternoon.
-
WHS wrestlers see success at district meet
The Weatherford wrestling team traveled to Springtown Saturday to compete in the District 8 Wrestling Championships.
-
New designation, same foes for WHS
Despite rumblings of a major shake up in the Class 5A infrastructure for the next two years, the University Interscholastic League (UIL), for good or bad, chose indifference regarding plans to create a Class 6A. As alignments for the 2012-13 and 2013-14 UIL seasons were announced Thursday, most area schools were affected in varying degrees, but none less than Weatherford High School.
-
Paschal edges WHS teams on Senior Night
With nothing to lose and an opportunity to play spoiler, Paschal's Lady Panthers took the floor loose and energetic on Friday, and did indeed put a crimp in Weatherford's plans for a postseason spot at Kangaroo gymnasium.
-
WC recovers, wins late over Navarro
Not to be outdone by the Lady Coyotes late-inning heroics in their opener last week, the Weatherford College baseball team had plenty of drama in its opener, as well, as it launched a final-inning 3-run barrage to beat defending national champion Navarro College, 8-7.
-
Area sports schedules — Week of February 6
It is official. With the start of area prep baseball and softball scrimmages in the coming week, as well as Weatherford College playing its baseball season-opener on Saturday last, the busiest time of year, sports-wise for Parker County, has emerged.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
