Dixon named State Player of the Year

Having to play each 7A-West Conference team twice in 2015 didn't affect McKenzie Dixon at all. In fact, it made her work even harder. Dixon scored 43 goals and led Bentonville to the 7A-West Conference title in her senior season, which helped her earn the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's All-Arkansas Preps girls soccer player of the year award. Winning the award was nice, but the Austin Peay signee said her team's success was even more gratifying. "Our success as a team was something that was so awesome to me," Dixon said. "We had to play everyone in our conference twice. We were able to come out on top and go undefeated. That was important to me." Dixon finished her high school career with 112 goals, which is a Bentonville record for girls soccer players. She also broke her own single-season scoring record of 36 from a year ago. Being the focal point of the Lady Tigers never seemed to burden Dixon over the past three seasons. "I knew that they had a defender on my back," she said. "It was something that would either make me feel accomplished or something I had to work on." Dixon also competed in track and field during the spring and was part of Bentonville's state championship team in that sport as well. Dixon said she would practice with the track team at 6:30 a.m., then go to classes before working with the soccer team in the afternoon. "We always made it work," Dixon said. Being able to compete in two sports during the spring was something Dixon appreciated and credited her coaches, soccer coach Kristina Henry and track coach Randy Ramaker, for allowing her to do that. "They helped me grow as a runner and as a soccer player," Dixon said. Dixon plans to major in physical therapy at Austin Peay, a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. She said that while playing sports at Bentonville she noticed the work that the physical training staff did at the school, which spurred her interest in that field. But before she heads to Austin Peay, Dixon will play with the Arkansas Comets under-18 girls soccer team in the U.S. Youth Soccer Region III tournament in North Little Rock from June 19-25. While Bentonville couldn't win its fourth consecutive Class 7A state championship, Dixon said she still felt like the season was a success. "I got to play with some of the most awesome players that helped me grow as a player," Dixon said. "I got to be coached by one of the most awesome coaches who helped me develop into the player I am today."

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Bentonville High School Athletics

DIXON NAMED STATE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

JEREMY MUCK

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | 6/14/2015

PHOTO CREDIT: Stephen B. Thornton