Martin student a versatile resource for school athletics

Reporter Britton Gray highlights remarkable Saskatchewan athletes in this regular feature.

Mackenzie Bjornson has become the go-to person when it comes to athletics at Martin Collegiate.

Along with skipping the Regina high school’s senior girls curling team, she also is an athletic trainer for the football team, officiates volleyball and basketball games, and helps out in many other ways.

With all the responsibilities she has taken on, Bjornson admits she wasn’t sure if she would be able to handle all of them at first.

“At the beginning, it was hard to manage all of the time and my schoolwork as well as doing all of these other things, but I have been doing it for so long that I just figured it out and made it work,” Bjornson said.

“It was really scary. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into and just decided to take the risk.”

But Martin athletic director Krista Price is glad Bjornson has taken on so much.

“Mackenzie came into my homeroom class in Grade 9 and I pushed her into helping out around here because she was one of my kids who always showed up and was on time and very reliable,” Price said. “She’s now my go-to with every sport around here.

“She can pick any sport up which, for me, I think is brilliant. She has never played volleyball on a team and she just picks the sport up to officiate and same with basketball. It’s really hard and it’s a fast sport with lots of coaches yelling and screaming and she remains calm. It’s really wonderful.”

READ MORE:

• Ryenn Schutz following in mom’s footsteps with U of R Cougars
• Sask. hockey player continues career in Sweden
• 13-year-old getting chance to play with Pat Canadians

Bjornson has also helped Price when it comes to keeping up with new technology at the school.

“We got a brand-new scoreclock last year. She has put in more hours on that clock than I have,” Price said.

On the ice, Bjornson and the Martin curling team have a 4-2 record and sit in second place in the Regina High Schools Athletic Association standings.

“I like the game. I like the social aspect of it as well as just being on the ice,” Bjornson said. “I kind of knew that I wanted to be active since I was a kid. I’ve always tried everything. My parents put me in a lot of different sports growing up just to find what I liked because I did it and found I didn’t really like it. Curling was something I really stuck with.”

Bjornson and her club team also recently participated at the 2024 CurlSask U18 girls provincials in Moose Jaw from Dec. 27-30. They finished with a 2-3 record at the event.

“We’re proud of her and she’s only in Grade 11. We can’t wait until next year to see where she goes,” Price said.

While there’s excitement around where Bjornson could go on the ice, off the ice she is also trying to determine what could be next for her schooling-wise. She said being an athletic trainer at the school has caught her attention.

“It’s fun. I’ve met a lot of different people doing it. I’ve had a lot of different experiences with everything,” Bjornson said. “Right now I am just deciding if I want to do that or go into nursing. Right now this is just kind of opening up my opportunities.”

With all the work Bjornson does for the school, Price is glad the student has been willing to make so much time to help out.

“It’s very tough. We really appreciate her and the time she puts in around here. She’s humble and kind of just slides in and sometimes you don’t even know if she showed up but she’s always here,” Price said.

“There’s no one like her around here and anytime I need her, I ask her first.”