The Talon Newspaper will be beginning a news series called “The Seat Behind You.” Its goal is to give recognition to students who have not been recognized, to voice the opinions of the general student population, to take notice of the students you interact with everyday but may not know a thing about, and above all, to feature the unfeatured. This series will be posted about twice a month, so be sure to check back in two weeks for the next feature!
A mom is someone who watches over you. Someone who supports you and gives you advice. Someone who helps you in any way they can, and of course, someone who cooks for you.
Mackenzie Roque, senior, is known by the team and the coaches as the “football mom,” and has been to every varsity football game her entire four years of high school.
“My freshman and sophomore years I was known as the “little sister” of the team,” Roque said. “But my junior year, I brought food for one of the boys, and he started calling me mom. After he did, everyone started calling me that.”
Roque’s passion for football comes from her family. Her dad was a coach and she has three older brothers who have played football.
“It’s something where I just wanna be around football, because I always have been,” Roque said. “I’m not only dedicated to the boys, I’m dedicated to the sport.”
Roque’s dedication to the team is not only demonstrated by attending every game and baking the team treats. According to Jacob Popovich, junior, Roque helps the boys with everything from school to the sport itself.
“She just takes care of us,” Popovich said. “She just gets us through everything, and she helps us with school, football and feelings. She’s just like another coach.”
And like a coach, Roque regularly tries to help build up the boys, on and off the field.
“I am on them about every little thing,” Roque said. “On the field, when they get a good hit or a good catch, I always make sure to complement them and give them feedback.”
Roque’s care for the boys has impacted not only the team as a whole, but also each player individually.
“She brings our team closer together,” said Jamison Pruitt, junior. “I started calling her mom because she cares about us and helps us and brings food. Everyone on the team loves her, and next year will be really different without her.”
Although Roque will head to college next year, she knows her passion for football won’t end with graduation.
“I’ve always been a football girl,” Roque said. “The boys and the sport have a special spot in my heart.”
