Mac attacks college hoops and life

Mackenzie (Mac) Schroeder is making a smooth transition to post secondary hoops.

“It’s really good and I am enjoying it,” said the 5-foot-9 rookie guard with the Niagara College Knights women’s team. “It is a good step up from high school with the competitiveness, having to work hard and the level of play is so different.”

The Eden graduate has noticed a lot of differences between high school and college basketball.

“It’s the physicality, the amount of time you spend on the court and going into the gym and lifting weights and stuff like that,” the 18-year-old said. “I was really sore at first.”

Schroeder got her first taste of Ontario Colleges Athletic Association play this past weekend when Niagara lost road games to Lambton (89-43) and St. Clair (78-51).

“After the first two games, my thoughts were that it was a lot different than high school intensity wise. It was a quicker pace and more physical than high school,” she said. “And I learned that you can’t be a rookie any more. After the first two games, you are a player on the team and you have to work hard.”

In the two games, the St. Catharines resident averaged six points, five rebounds and 24 minutes of playing time. It’s no secret what she needs to do to get better.

“I just have to work harder, always be in the gym and be 100 per cent focused every second you are in the gym.”

Schroeder is taking fitness and health promotion at Niagara College and she has made a pretty smooth transition to the life of a student/athlete.

The former Niagara Rangers under-19 player knew right away that Niagara College was the right choice for her.

“It was the first day of school with the teachers talking about things and the coach saying what was going to happen this year,” she said. “I just felt really comfortable.”

She was little concerned when the coach that recruited her to Niagara was let go, but she has quickly come to like the style of new head coach Chris Rao.

“He’s young and has a younger mindset and he has a lot of knowledge about the game.”

Rao loves having Schroeder on his team.

“She is a phenomenal person and a great basketball player,” he said. “She is going to do really, really well and she’s just figuring stuff out right now. She’s going to have a long and good career for however long she wants to play.”

Schroeder also possesses all the necessary intangibles.

“She works hard in practice and she does all the right things as a teammate,” Rao said.

Like any player, there are adjustments to be made at the post secondary level.

“The speed and the physicality are different and the age of the girls is different,” he said. “There are so many new stimuli and you are going into hostile environments where there are people cheering against you.”

Niagara is at Conestoga this Saturday before playing its home opener Friday, Nov. 1 versus Sheridan. Schroeder is looking forward to her first home game.

“I am excited to be at home, finally play at Niagara and have everyone there to support me.”