NORTH MUSKEGON – Mackenzie Fris was always a team-first player who cared a great deal about the North Muskegon girls basketball squad.

Ironically, the depth of her loyalty was not fully apparent until her playing career came to a premature end.

Fris was named North Muskegon’s most valuable player back when she was a junior in the 2017-18 season, and Norse head coach Ryan Hankinson had big plans for her headed into her senior season.

“She was going to be our starting point guard,” said Hankinson about Fris, who was a team captain in both her junior and senior seasons. “She was like our fourth leading scorer her junior season but still our most valuable player.”

Then everything changed before the season even started. With about 15 minutes left in team tryouts, Fris tore her ACL and quickly learned that her high school playing career was over.

“We were playing a three-on-two scrimmage type of drill called 11-man,” Fris said. “I was dribbling down the court, took a step to pass the ball and my knee just buckled. It resulted in a torn ACL and meniscus.

“At the time of the injury, I’m just mad. That was probably one of the biggest struggles I’ve had, mentally or physically. All I did was sports, and then not being able to take a step on my own was crazy. It was so hard.”

Following the injury, Fris took a few days away from school and the team.

“I didn’t go to school for the next day or two,” she said. “It was kind of crazy being on crutches, with everybody asking me about it. Coach Hankinson didn’t ask me to come to practice for a few days.”

When Fris did return to school and practice, Hankinson created a role for her on the bench, as something of an extra coach.

“It was like, how do I give back to her?” Hankinson said. “She had given so much to our program, I wanted to keep her involved, and she still wanted to be involved with everything. We had to meet her needs and make her feel a part of us.”

Hankinson tasked Fris with charting shots and rebounds, a role that he had previously played under longtime Coach Bill Core at Spring Lake High School.

“I got more of the coaching view of sports,” said Fris about the new experience. “It was kind of cool because I already had the athlete side of things. I got to step up my game and learn more about coaching and get deeper into the sport.”

Fris used that knowledge to stay involved after high school, and is now in her third season as an official assistant coach at North Muskegon.

“I love it,” said Fris about still being with the program. “It’s why I’ve been doing it for three years, and I plan on doing it in the future. I’ll be that sports mom who volunteers. With me missing my senior season, this coaching kind of fulfilled that. Being a part of the program and helping it grow has improved me as a person.”

Fris said she enjoys doing what she can to recognize and help the players develop their potential on a daily basis.

“I think one of the most challenging things is knowing how much potential some athletes have. and trying to influence them,” she said. “Sometimes as a coach, you have to mediate and help them through some troubles, inside and outside of school.”

Coach Hankinson said Fris has been a huge help with the team every season she’s been helping.

“She’s hands down one of the most supportive people I’ve had here,” he said. “She’s done an incredible job with our girls, and the girls absolutely enjoy having her around.”

While Fris has had a huge impact on the Norse program, this season will be her last, at least for the time being. She’s currently a student at Muskegon Community College and will enroll at Grand Valley State University in the fall, with the goal of attaining a business and marketing degree.

“The experience I want for this season is to enjoy it,” Fris said. “Especially after last year, with all of the COVID stuff. I want the girls to have real fun and be able to walk away happy and satisfied with how much fun we had. They deserve pure satisfaction with no regrets.”