In March 2020, the world had just unexpectedly shut down. Arguments over vaccines and politics flooded all the news channels. The whole world was told to wear masks, stay six feet apart, and everyone was scared. Millions of people were stranded away from home when airline after airline shut down– an Antioch Community High School student was a victim of this.
Longing for the warmth of the Florida air, but instead feeling the chilling breeze of the Illinois wind, senior Makenna Sekany was officially stuck in Antioch, Illinois. What was meant to be a weeklong trip during spring break turned into almost six years.
Makenna was staying with her dad when the world shut down, forced to say goodbye to her previous life in Florida and continue sixth grade at Emmons School. Everything was different, but with these differences came an opportunity. These unpredictable circumstances brought her closer to other family members and to her closest friends, one of whom is senior Sophia Delia-Galason. Makenna and Delia-Galason clicked immediately when they met at Emmons, forming a friendship that is still thriving five years later.
“I love her perseverance,” Delia-Galason said. “If she’s dedicated to something, she gets it done.”
After getting used to all the new changes in her life, it was time for Makenna to start her freshman year of high school at ACHS.
Going into freshman year, Makenna did not expect to get roped up in bowling; she had never competitively bowled before and originally had no interest in it. Makenna actually had no interest in pursuing any high school sport; little did she know that by the end of the year, she would have completed three seasons as an ACHS athlete. Makenna’s older sister, 2023 alum Lynea Sekany, was a senior at ACHS when Makenna started her journey as a freshman.
Growing up, the only girls among six siblings, Lynea and Makenna were very close, though very different. Makenna had never shown much interest in sports and had a closer relationship with their mom, while Lynea had a stronger bond with their dad and loved talking about and watching different sports teams. These differences slowly disappeared as Makenna followed Lynea’s footsteps into high school.
Lynea heavily encouraged Makenna to try the sports she had fallen in love with over her years at ACHS. After an abundance of convincing, Makenna decided she would join Lynea on the golf team for her senior year.
“Getting to see her learn her way around a new school and find her way with sports and friends, and getting to guide her in any way is something I’ve always held close to my heart,” Lynea said. “Especially when it came to getting to share athletic moments together and playing the same three sports, both getting to shine in our own ways.”
Makenna’s first year on the golf team gave her a taste of what it meant to be part of a team and to work collectively toward a goal; it also allowed her and Lynea’s relationship to grow even more. Makenna had also grown a very close bond with golf and bowling coach Whitney Walsh. Walsh became a maternal figure in Makenna’s life; she had known the Sekany family for a very long time, having taught and coached Makenna’s other siblings.
“The friendship and relationship I’ve grown with Walsh,” Makenna said. “We all joke around, saying she’s my other mom.”
This relationship with Walsh encouraged Makenna to try out for the bowling team. When sharing this interest, she was approached very excitedly by Lynea, who had been a part of the team already. Starting her experience on the bowling team, Makenna was on JV. Although this meant Lynea and Makenna were not on the same team, the experience still allowed their relationship to flourish and introduced Makenna to several new friends and a community.
Makenna’s relationship altered as her years went on. Originally, during freshman year, she took the sport very lightheartedly, using it to meet new people and enjoy time with her sister. As the years passed, though, Makenna began to shift into a more competitive mindset. By junior year, she secured a spot on varsity, steadily improving her scores and working hard.
Going into the season, senior year, Makenna thought it would be just like every other year: working hard and connecting with friends, but a few weeks later, that all changed. Makenna surprised herself by bowling a 298 at a tournament. This score was substantially higher than her original record of 260. Not only was this a huge accomplishment for Makenna herself, but it was also a huge accomplishment for the Seagles bowling team as a whole. After rolling that last ball, Makenna stood there in shock, slowly processing what she had just achieved. While teammates rushed her with excitement, the only thing Makenna could focus on was the fact that she was only 2 points away from a perfect score of 300. After a long embrace from her coach, Makenna snapped back into reality and felt the pride she deserved. Makenna had been working unbelievably hard to medal at a tournament for her senior year, and now she had accomplished it.
“[Walsh] was really happy that I placed, she was literally over the moon,” Makenna said. “She kept saying how proud she was and that she knows I’ve worked towards this.”
Although Makenna does not plan to compete in bowling competitively in college at Carroll University, it has helped shape who she is today and will forever hold a special place in her heart. Whether it is the memory of bowling well at a tournament or laughing with her friends at practice, she will never forget her time on the bowling team.
