Chatham-Kent’s Brooke MacKinnon, Making CK Proud

Chatham-Kent sends athletes across Ontario, Canada, and the globe each year to compete athletically. Sponsored by baCK to Chatham-Kent, we’ll be featuring local athletes who have left Chatham-Kent, and are proudly representing our community. We hope many of these athletic ambassadors for our community someday come baCK to call Chatham-Kent home.

This week, we feature Chatham’s Brooke MacKinnon. MacKinnon is a Junior at the University of Hartford playing for the NCAA school’s women’s golf team.

Last season, MacKinnon was named to the MAAC All-Academic Team and has been recognized by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association as an All-American Scholar in back-to-back seasons.

Here are Brooke’s responses to our baCK to Chatham-Kent athletes interview:

1. Can you describe what support you’ve felt from your hometown/Chatham-Kent while you’ve been away?

I’ve felt a lot of support while at school. My parents have watched more than half of my golf tournaments where they drove over 9 hours to get to most of them. My conference championship is at Disney every year and each year I have had 20 people fly down to support me. I find that the support has been amazing throughout my first two and half years at the University of Hartford.

2. What do you enjoy about coming home to visit?

I love coming home and going back to my former school to visit with the teachers that have helped me in my athletics and academics. They are always interested in how I am doing not only in athletics but in academics as well. I also love coming home to see my family and friends. I grew up playing sports in Chatham with my best friends and I love coming home to see them as we don’t get to see each other very much during the school year.

3. What advice would you give to young athletes baCK home in Chatham-Kent?

I would tell younger athletes that in order to achieve your goals, you have to put in the effort to get there. Coaches can teach anyone the skills they need to compete, but it is the athletes that give 100% effort during all practices and games who are the ones that succeed. My soccer coach used to tell us that “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard,” and I think this was the best advice I was given throughout my athletic career. Anyone can have the skills needed to compete, but it is those that work hard who will succeed.