Skyview graduate right at home

Almost 10 years ago, Macy Mukensnabl played organized basketball for the first time as a third grader. Today, she is a forward for Clark College's women's basketball team.

Mukensnabl, a freshman, knew basketball was a good fit for her from the beginning.

"I was too slow for soccer, and too tall for ballet," Mukensnabl said. "So basketball just seemed to be the fit."

She graduated from Skyview High School in 2010, where she played varsity basketball from her sophomore to senior year.

That's how Penguins' head coach Nancy Boone first discovered Mukensnabl. Boone teaches at Hudson's Bay, and Skyview happened to be playing there one evening.

"She's 5'10", and usually 5'10" is a post," Boone said. "I liked her size and the fact that she could shoot the three."

Boone then watched Mukensnabl play in the league championship game and talked to her after the game. She said she wanted to stay home so her family could see her play at the college level.

"She said she wanted to stay here and play," Boone said. "I said ‘OK, let's go!'"

Since joining the Penguins, Mukensnabl has established herself as one of the team leaders. She averages 9.8 points per game as a starting forward.

"Macy plays a pretty big role on the team as a starter," teammate and starting post Lacy Kruse said. "She's a rebounder, as well as a shooter from anywhere on the court."

According to Mukensnabl, although she is a starter, parts of her game still needs work. She said she needs to work on her mental game and staying focused for the full 40 minutes of a game.

Boone commends Mukensnabl's work ethic, and noted how she trains with the team and a personal trainer.

Though she is very serious about her game, Boone and Kruse agreed Mukensnabl's sense of humor is one of her best qualities.

"She can be totally serious on the court and then joke around and be funny off the court," Kruse said.

Mukensnabl acknowledged that she had some difficulties adjusting to basketball at the next level. She said one of her biggest struggles initially was with the pace of the college game.

According to Boone, she has adjusted well and is now in a role of complete versatility on her team. Boone noted that her length, above all else, is the biggest reason she can be so versatile.

"She knows our offense from all five positions," Boone said. "I can use her, because of her length, on top of a zone defense, and she's more than willing to go down low."

Mukensnabl knows that, despite the challenges, she has enjoyed the transition from high school basketball to playing for the Penguins.

"Overall, the transition has been great," Mukensnabl said. "I'm on a good team with great girls and awesome coaches."

Contact Dan Ellertson at d.ellertson@students.clark.edu