LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — If you've already set some of your school's sports records, it might be hard to motivate yourself, but not for MacKenzie Perry. The Rancho High School senior is dominant on the softball diamond and in the classroom.
"I pitch and I hit, and that’s pretty much what I do," said Perry with a smile.
As a pitcher, Perry set the single-season strikeout record at Rancho High School as a junior.
"It’s like 278 [strikeouts] or something like that. I kind of want to beat my strikeout record from last year," said Perry.
She's also developed into a leader who brings out the best in her teammates.
"I like to bring my other teammates up and so if someone is having a bad day on the field, then it affects everyone else, and so I like to keep the vibe positive," said Perry.
As a student, Perry makes school look fairly simple.
"I’ve pretty much always excelled at English, but I’ve worked really hard to get better at math," said Perry.
Through a lot of homework and hard work, she's earned a 3.9 unweighted G.P.A.
"As a student, I work really hard to understand the material and I’m not afraid to go and talk to my teachers. I take mostly A.P. classes, but I take honors too," said Perry.
Perhaps Perry's biggest challenge is balancing school and sports.
"Taking care of myself, sleeping enough, eating, taking baths, all that stuff, and then just time management," said Perry, describing how she handles her workload. Still, her coach isn't concerned.
"The commitment she goes to, her work ethic in the classroom, on the field, is just phenomenal. She’s been a great leader for us for many years and I’m really excited for her senior year and she deserves it," said Amanda Zunno, head softball coach at Rancho High School.
Perry isn't worried either because she welcomes a challenge as a way to get better.
"It’s just a challenge for me to accomplish something and then just develop myself and grow," she said.
Perry is considering several Ivy League colleges, but her first choice is the University of Pennsylvania. Her goal is to continue playing softball at school while studying to be a counselor so she can help people with their mental health.
