Cheboygan’s Burt earns soccer all-state honorable mention nod
CHEBOYGAN – Versatility is a good thing to have.
Arguably nobody on the Cheboygan girls soccer team was more versatile than Kenzie Burt this past season.
Whether it was scoring goals as one of the team’s top forwards or creating chances for her teammates in her midfield role, Burt’s contributions on the pitch were impressive.
As a result of a strong junior season, Burt was recently named to the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association (MIHSSCA) Division 3 all-state team as an honorable mention.
“She’s always been a go-getter,” said Cheboygan coach Tom Markham. “I’ve been coaching her since she was a fifth grader and she’s always been a hard worker. The last three seasons, many of the goals we scored, she’s been two or three passes away from, so she’s got great vision, she’s really good at hooking her teammates up with good opportunities, and this year proved to be a really good finisher.”
Burt’s scoring and creative presence was important all season long for the Chiefs, who captured the Northern Michigan Soccer League East Division championship with a 12-1-1 league record.
“She’s one of those players that, through leadership on and off the field, elevates everybody else, makes everybody else better,” Markham said. “We’ve got other players around her that are quality players and that just makes the whole equation a lot more powerful.”
The talent has always been there with Burt, but it’s between the ears where she's shown the most improvement, Markham said.
“I think with her it's been about getting better and not being so tough on herself,” Markham said. “Those are conversations that we’ve had at times, because good finishers have to have a short memory. The goal you just barely missed or went wide or went up above or hit the post, you can’t get that moment back. You can only move on and look for the next opportunity. I think all good players have that common denominator, but Kenzie demands a lot of herself. I think it’s a good quality to have, but I think it can also be a hindrance if you let it.”
Burt joined her sister and former Cheboygan star Kayla Burt as the most recent Chiefs to earn all-state honorable mention recognition. Kayla Burt picked up the all-state honor following the 2021 season.
Next season, Burt returns to lead what should be another strong Cheboygan squad.
“Always excited for the next year, for sure, and really excited for next year,” Markham said. “We get (Burt) and Cassidy (Jewell) back and many other juniors that are now seniors, and we’ve got some young ones coming up who are going to help us, so don’t count Cheboygan out, especially with Kenzie and Cassidy leading this team as captains. I like our chances next year, for sure.”
Burt was also the lone Cheboygan player to earn all-region honors. In addition to all-state honorable mention and all-region, Burt secured both all-district and All-NMSL first team honors as a junior.
Among the out-of-area players to earn Division 3 all-state honorable mention accolades was Boyne City’s Maddie Smith.
In Division 2, Petoskey’s Hayley Flynn made the all-state second team. Gaylord’s Kate Mumford and Claire Gorno, as well as Petoskey’s Emma Nicholson, each earned spots as honorable mentions.
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan’s Burt earns soccer all-state honorable mention nod
