Ava Makaron of Briarcliff High School is ending her senior year with a plethora of accomplishments both athletically and academically.
Despite having split her attention between three sports, Makaron has had a significant amount of success in all three: soccer, basketball and lacrosse.
Soccer was the sport that initially sparked Makaron’s natural affinity for athletics at the age of two, eventually playing for FC Westchester, which trailed into her freshman year of high school. Basketball and lacrosse followed closely behind when Makaron began to play them together in third grade, eventually achieving varsity status in all sports by her freshman year of high school.
Makaron has achieved an All-League and All Section Honorable Mention in varsity soccer. As team captain, Makaron has led her team to a win in the Section One Championship in 2023, and to the finals in both 2021 and 2024. Simultaneously, Makaron was also team captain in lacrosse, with her team making it to the Section One Finals in 2023. And to round it all out, in varsity basketball, Makaron achieved All-League status.
Through everything, Makaron said that her favorite achievement was winning the Soccer Sectional 1 Championship in 2023, “My high school athletic goal was to win a section championship before I graduated, and I was elated to accomplish that goal,” she said.
Still, she mentions how she also feels pride in winning the Principal’s Book and AP Scholar award. Her priorities extend beyond the field and court, showing a tenacious attitude toward academics just as much as the ball. Makaron is known throughout Briarcliff High School for founding the Students for Refugees Club and being heavily involved in the school newspaper as editor-in-vhief, sports editor and reporter. On top of these roles, Makaron has maintained high honor roll status for all four years of high school.
Makaron’s soccer coach, David Villalobos, had many things to say about her resilience in the face of adversity. Makaron had torn her ACL during her senior year, which caused her to miss a whole season. Still, she was voted a team captain, showing the extent to which her teammates value her presence. “She was such a pleasure to coach as she was always willing to learn and you always saw she could apply it right away in training or in the game,” said Villalobos. “She was such a competitive athlete that she truly epitomized what it meant to have the ‘Play like you train’ mentality. That is something as a soccer program, we always talk about. She was just a phenomenal learner. She is one of those players that truly made me enjoy coaching a lot more.”
Makaron spends most of her time volunteering, participating in clubs, and honing the athletic skills she’s worked so hard to achieve. She is an active member of the J-Teen Leadership Circle and volunteer for the Westchester Jewish Coalition for Immigration, as well as a volunteer trainer for AYSO Soccer. It’s obvious that Makaron is not just a passive member in any of her clubs, as they truly reflect her passion and drive.
“I motivate myself by always wanting to be the best version of myself possible each and every day. If I don’t work hard at every game or practice, I know I will get home that day and think to myself, ‘why didn’t I work my hardest in that moment?’ When asked how she motivates herself, Makaron said “I am motivated by having no regrets and walking away knowing I did everything I could every day.”.
Being a student athlete in itself is both an extremely challenging and highly rewarding experience. For Makaron, her bonds with her teammates have been the most influential part of sports for her as well as the lessons she’s been able to learn from her peers. She owes appreciation to her basketball coach Denise Hamlin, her soccer coach David Villalobos, and her lacrosse coach Dan Perito, who have all inspired her to achieve all she can in their respective sports.
Makaron’s brother, Eli Makaron, who is a senior at the University of Florida, has always been a huge inspiration to her, especially in the act of leading others.
“Being a student athlete is one of the most exciting, rewarding, and transformative parts of going through high school as it gets me through all of the ups and downs of life,” Makaron said.
Makaron is unsure where she’ll be attending college the fall, however, she has an interest in kinesiology and biology which she plans to pursue wherever she chooses to go.
PHOTO: Ava Bball
CAPTION: Makaron was named to the All-League team in basketball and soccer. Photo supplied
PHOTO: Ava Soccer
CAPTION: Soccer was the sport that initially sparked Makaron’s natural affinity for athletics at the age of two. Photo suppled
