Mackie Sacarellos is a former soccer player at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He is a recent graduate from the school who was named the team's most improved player in his sophomore year, while appearing in all 19 games during the 2021 fall season. Sacarellos is also of Greek descent and prides himself on learning his ancestor's culture. Mackie has lots of stories to tell from suffering with a major injury in his senior year, life after college, and how the recruitment process worked for him, as well as his experience as a college athlete.

Ouch!

Nobody ever wants to suffer a major injury during their athletic careers, but unfortunately Mackie did just that during a pre-season game of his final season as a senior. “I'm a very ambitious, driven person who is positive thinking,” Mackie said, “but I was out for the whole season. I came back healthy and cleared but it was right before the playoffs and you still have to deal with confidence and getting back into it.” 

Many would be demotivated by this, but Mackie's determination and attitude towards being able to make it on the field on senior night was a driving force throughout his recovery. “It was tough sometimes, but because I was so driven, I had classes and was always so busy,” Mackie saud, “[But] I stayed with my PT, trainers, and doctors and listened to them the best I could and did as much as I could with physical therapy.” This shows the importance of having a support network around you while being injured and one of the key tips that Mackie shared during his interview.

Related: How to Deal with Season-Ending Injuries 

“In my mind I thought I could always get back [to match fitness],” he said, “I think it helped because I did all the work during PT which prepared me to get back and healthy. If I didn't do that and thought I wasn't going to play anyways, it would have come back to bite me later on.” Staying focused and motivated during an injury can be tough, but Mackie did this and felt the benefits later on. A key tip here's to never rush your recovery or get impatient–every athlete is different and recovers in different ways.

Recruiting Tips

Recruitment was also an important aspect of Mackie's soccer journey and he offers advice to current recruits looking to get into college. “Be proactive and don't be afraid to reach out, send emails, or call,” he advised. “I know there are some rules, so don't break those! But whatever you can do that's within your limits, reach out, be proactive, and play your game.”

Related: Soccer Recruiting Advice 

As high school athletes we all have that one school we would love to go to and be recruited by. But that might not always be the case. “Don't rely only on one school,” Mackie said. “It would obviously be great to get into your number 1 school, but you could have a list of 10 schools (maybe with one not on your list) that could offer you something good. You could go to your 10th school and have the time of your life for those 4 years and get a great degree. So, always keep your options open.”

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Image Credit: UMBC Athletics

* Originally published on April 27, 2023, by Rhys Davies