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Triple Threat Athlete of the Week: Mackenzie Holzwart, Howards Grove

03/05/2021, 2:30pm CST
By Norbert Durst

Name: Mackenzie Holzwart
School: Howards Grove High School
Year: Senior 

Volleyball Honors: Four-year varsity performer for coach Brett Damrow and the Tigers... served as the team's libero all four years... first-team all-Big East as a sophomore, junior, and senior... helped lead Howards Grove to back-to-back Division 3 WIAA state titles (2019, 2020)... WVCA all-state as a senior and honorable mention all-state as a junior... given the team's defensive award all four years by the Howards Grove coaching staff... 

Basketball Honors: Four-year starter for coach Heidi Georgeff and the Tigers... named second-team all-Big East as a freshman... first-team all-conference as a sophomore, junior, and senior... named Big East co-Player of the Year as a senior... helped lead the Tigers to at least a share of three league titles and three regional tittles... named WBCA all-state as a junior and honorable mention as a sophomore... qualified for the WIAA 3-Point Challenge as a junior, which was canceled due to COVID-19... led Howards Grove to a Division 3 state tournament appearance as a junior... the Tigers fell to state champion Lake Mills in a state semifinal, Holzwart finished with 30 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and three steals to earn honorable mention all-tournament by WisSports.net... averaged 16.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 3.7 steals per game as a senior for the 24-2 Tigers... finished career as the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,348 points... committed to NCAA Division II Northern Michigan... 

Soccer Honors: Played soccer as a freshman... received honorable mention all-conference and named team's most valuable offensive player... 

Track & Field Honors: Has competed in track since her sophomore year... podium finishes at conference meet in 100m, 200m, and long jump as a sophomore... qualified for state meet in 200m and 4x100 relay team...  

Favorite Sport (and why): "My favorite sport is basketball because of the many different aspects of the game. Offense, defense, dribbling, shooting, passing, seeing the court, smarts of the game, etc. are all important skills to perfect. It is a very competitive team sport that I have loved since kindergarten."

Best Part of High School Sports (and why): "I think the best part of High School Sports is playing in front of all our friends and family, as well as seeing all the community support! You also get to play with your best friends, and create bonds unlike any others."

Best Advice from a High School Coach: "Best advice that my volleyball coach said throughout the whole season was to be bigger than the moment no matter how big that moment might be. From my basketball coach, keep being the influential and inspirational leader that I am." 

Most Memorable Moment in High School Sports: "My most memorable moments were winning back-to-back state championships in volleyball, competing at the state track meet, and competing at the state basketball tournament in the Milwaukee Bucks G-League Arena!"

Best Part of Playing Three Sports: "I think the best part of being a multi-sport athlete is the chance to meet and compete with so many people from our area. Creating new friendships and learning lifelong lessons along the way."

Toughest Part of Playing Three Sports: "The toughest part for me of playing three sports is never really getting a chance to take a break. Besides getting rest, time management can get difficult with juggling school, work, and sports, but I wouldn’t want it any other way!"

Favorite Opponent (and why): "My favorite opponent is either Mishicot or Oostburg because you always know it will be a battle to the end. I have so much respect for so many of those girls. Many of whom I have played against, or even with, since the 5th grade."

Favorite Professional Team: "My favorite professional team would have to be the Milwaukee Bucks."

Favorite Professional Athlete: "My favorite professional athlete growing up has always been Steph Curry, so I will stick with him." 

Favorite College Team: "My favorite college team would probably be the Badgers."

Cumulative GPA: 3.919

Toughest Individual You’ve Competed Against (and why): "The toughest individual I have competed against was Shemera Williams. We played her my sophomore year (she was a senior) in the Sectional Finals game. I was tasked with guarding her. She was an amazing player and committed originally to Marquette." 

Most Admired High School Teammate (and why): "My most admired high school teammate is a tough one. I am surrounded by a team of players and friends that love the game as much as I do. If I have to pick just one, I would say Rylee Reichwald. Her aggressiveness, hustle, and never give up attitude is undeniable. She always leaves it all out on the court." 

College Plans: "I plan on attending Northern Michigan University to continue my education and basketball career. I am planning to obtain my undergraduate in exercise science with future dreams of becoming a physical therapist."

Activities Outside of Sports: "In my free time I enjoy hanging out with my friends and family. I love to swim, boat, and spend time at the beach in the summer. I also love to play cards and board games because I am very competitive." 

I Find it Relaxing to: "I find it relaxing to lay on the couch and watch movies."

Favorite TV Show: Criminal Minds

Favorite Subject: "I don’t really have a favorite subject, but I like anatomy and biology."

Favorite Restaurant: Buffalo Wild Wings

Other Family Members: "My parents are Paul and Felicia Holzwart. I have two younger sisters, Kendall and Harper. Kendall (10)  is very artistic and Harper (8) loves being a Girl Scout. They are both very competitive as well, and love playing sports too!"

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