Malatesta Twins: A True Team

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- We have a first here at Woodlands Online for our Profile of the Week because we usually profile just one student. Well, you get double the fun this week because we found two TWHS rising sophomores in The Malatesta twins...Mackenzie and McKay. That's Kiki and KK to you.

We've all had some twins as friends when we were in grade school but for those of us who decided to come into this world alone, we have no clue what it would be like to have a twin. The twins (Lefebre's) I grew up with wore the same clothes and I could never tell them apart so I just called them, Debbie/Lisa every time I saw one of them.

Wearing the same clothes wouldn't work with these twins because Kiki's a girl and KK's a boy so although they are easy to tell apart, as you will see in their answers, they are similar in that they both have vivacious personalities. They are also very well written which should come as no surprise seeing as their Dad is a celebrity in this community as well as several others. Yep, their Dad is Matt who makes high school sports quite fun to watch with his written coverage and TV appearances. BUT, that's not important right now.

So, Mackenzie and McKay come from a cool household. Well, we know they are cool. Their Dad is cool and they have a little sister with whom you'll learn is cool. The jury is still out on Mom but I'm confident that'll come back favorable.

Time to meet Kiki and KK:

When did you start cheerleading/playing basketball?
Mackenzie: I started when I was about six years old doing lessons at Woodlands Elite. Then, I broke my hand during a practice and sort of got spooked about cheer. I came back in fifth grade and started competing on their teams. I’ve been to events from Houston to Dallas to New Orleans to Oklahoma City. It’s been great being part of a team and meeting so many other kids from other parts of the city and country.
McKay: I’ve been playing for about 10 years. I started at the YMCA like everyone else, then on to WCBL. I had some success there and started playing for select teams like Houston Premiere and Cut the Nets. I really started out as a baseball player and travelled to places like Cooperstown, NY to play, but basketball was just more fast-paced. I played SCFL and school football through the ninth grade, but recently just went straight basketball.

What position?
Mackenzie: I am a flyer at Woodlands Elite and on The Woodlands JV team as a sophomore. I think cheering in college would be great and I have a really good family friend who just made the Mississippi State team. The competition is tough but it would be great being on the sidelines during college game days. We are huge LSU fans as my parents and grandparents both went there so that would be my first choice. Or Alabama or Auburn, but don’t tell my family (laughs).
McKay: I play point guard for TWHS JV team and off guard in select for Cut the Nets.

What is your favorite subject in school?
Mackenzie: I like Biology and small animal science. I’ve always loved animals and would love to be a Veterinarian but I know it would take a lot of work and school.
McKay: I like all types of math.

Any idea what you want to be when you get older?
Mackenzie: My parents say that I can argue very well so maybe a lawyer. But, being a vet or some job like selling pharmaceuticals to vets.
McKay: I’m doing an internship at Memorial Hermann right now, so I have interest in medicine at some level. I had a terrible dune buggy accident when I was in the seventh grade and I was in the hospital for two weeks and they nearly had to amputate my arm. So, that's where my interest in sports medicine comes from. If not the medical field, then I’d look into the business side of oil and gas.

Do you like attending TWHS?
Mackenzie: I really like TWHS because there are so many kids there and so many opportunities to meet different people. They also have classes that can really push you into a career or push you away from one. Everyone here is striving to be something big and that is important. Everyone pushes each other. The sports and community support is also really big. Seeing 8,000 people at a football game is amazing.
McKay: Yes... A lot. I’ve had some friends go to the private school ranks, but the sports are really competitive at TWHS. I really like the coaches here in all sports. The football coaches were great and I had a great time last year. No one ever pressured me to go straight basketball, but I decided I could have more success early. I really liked our freshman coach (Eric Lammers) as he was really cool and I look forward to playing with Coach Bart (Bartolazzi) this year.

Describe how your first year in high school sports went:
Mackenzie: Our cheer team is really good. This summer we won several awards at Cheer Camp. Sure, we argue sometimes but that comes with being part of a team. We really have a bunch of fun girls and the coaches really push us to be better and make sure we are representing TWHS in a positive light. They take that very seriously. It’s an honor to cheer at one of the biggest schools in the state.
McKay: I was on the Freshman A Team and we went 24-3. It was the best year the freshman team has had in a long time. We had great chemistry because we like hanging out with each other and I feel that is a big reason why we won the Highlander Tournament for the first time in school history.

Describe what it's like to be a twin:
Mackenzie: Being a twin, there’s always people over to hang out with. Either my brother and his friends or me and mine. McKay and I hang in the same groups and yes it’s awkward sometimes if I like one of his friends or vice versa. He tries to act like he’s too cool for me, but he likes me.
McKay: Mackenzie likes to come to my games sometimes because she has a bunch of guy friends who play basketball, too. Her being a cheerleader, its kinda cool when she cheers at our games.

Do you have a role model for Cheer/Basketball?
Mackenzie: There are a ton of Cheerlebrities that I’ve met at different competitions. It’s amazing how they have made a business around cheer like Jamie Andries, Peyton Mabry.
McKay: Steph Curry because his game is really fun to watch. Also, he’s not that big but can get his shot off at any time.

How supportive are your parents in everything you do in your life?
Mackenzie: They are very supportive. I know they have my back but they also let me fail when I need to. Grades are super important but so is just being a good person. They put being a better person above worrying about grades. Plus, they are at all of my events and I can tell they are proud. I have a little sister who is crazy and thinks she's 16. She's great! We call her Rebel.
McKay: They are great. They go to all the games from baseball to basketball to football. All my select stuff and practices, too.

Your Dad is very involved in promoting high school sports in this community as well as many other communities. Everyone knows him because he covers everything in print, bandwidth and on TV. How is it living with a celebrity?
Mackenzie: It’s funny, I don’t even see him like that. He’s really been the carpool guy for me and my friends. People know he runs VYPE, but they also know him more as their old coach and crazy parent. He has a cool job and I know he loves it. He tries to get other kids into journalism because he has a passion for it. People tell me at school that they see him on TV, but we don’t even watch him. We’re too busy (laughs).
McKay: It’s pretty cool. Since I was little I could see who the next star players were in Houston, then in college, then off to the pros. I’ve been able to see some pretty cool stuff from the sidelines, too. But, it’s funny because he’s on tv and radio and we never watch him. Yet, my friends always say they saw him. He gets mad about that.

Mackenzie question only: Cheer has become huge and about as competitive as any high school sport. Because it is competitive and the stakes are high, there will always be some parents who are a tad over the top in their enthusiasm. You can even turn on the TV and watch a show called "Cheer Moms." Can you comment as to what you have witnessed in this regard?
Mackenzie: Competitive cheer is competitive. It’s mostly moms who get competitive with other moms. They want their girls as flyers or on a high-level team, and they will just leave for other gyms. They will travel to Dallas three days a week to get their kids on certain teams. It’s nuts. When we do big competitions, the moms are decked out in all kinds of bling and spirit sticks. It’s funny to see how into it they are. Even dads have bedazzled shirts.

McKay question only: Do you want to play basketball in college?
McKay: My dream would be to play for LSU, but it’s so tough to play at the DI level. I can’t decide if I would want to play at a smaller school or go to a big school and play intramurals. I’ve seen how much of a commitment it is to play major college sports.

Give us three things people don't know about you:
Mackenzie: You're getting six. I really like to hunt and fish with my grandparents. I’m a Christian and a part of Young Life. I love LSU football and I'm all about the beach and watching Netflix.
McKay: Four here. I like to fish and skimboard. I also love Young Life and am a Christian.

Ya know, when I met Kiki and then KK and talked to them individually, the first thought that came to my mind was..."Now that's a kid!" Here they are...rising sophmores as bright and as unentitled as can be just going at life with no holds barred.

Their coaches have similar takes...

From Woodlands Elite Cheer coach, Devin Carroll on Mackenzie:
"Kiki is a fun kid who works hard. She's a talented flyer who we've always been able to depend on for years."

From TWHS basketball coach, Eric Lammers on McKay:
"McKay is one of the best players I have ever coached. He is smart, hard working, a team player, and plays to his strengths. He is so unassuming in the way he leads. You don't expect him to be as good as he is and it almost surprises you at first, but once you really get to know him, you understand. He ran our team this past season and was one of the biggest reasons we had the success we did. I look for him to be a huge part of our program in the years to come."

After reading this profile you'll be hard pressed to find one flaw in these two solid kids. They tell you how they see things and they aren't afraid to tell you what they believe in.

Oh wait! I just noticed one flaw...they are big LSU fans. Nah, this Bearkat is jealous.