Mackenzie Powell performed with the Firecrackers at Rupp Arena and now she'll be back Feb. 1 as an assistant coach when the Firecrackers perform. (Firecrackers Photo)
When coach John Calipari brings Arkansas to Rupp Arena Feb. 1 to play against Kentucky it could be one of the most electric atmospheres ever for a UK home basketball game. Odds are ESPN GameDay will be at Rupp Arena to chronicle every move of Calipari’s return to the place where he once was king.
Adding to the atmosphere will be the return to the Kings Firecrackers, a jump rope team from southern Ohio that always puts on the most popular halftime show of the season when it performs in Rupp Arena.
Shaun Hamilton is the second-year coach and this season is being assisted by Mackenzie Powell, a former Firecracker who performed in Rupp Arena and knows what the UK crowd is like.
“I was on the team for three years in grades six to eight. I started learning to jump rope in the fifth grade and learned from my friends on the Firecrackers,” said Powell, a 2015 King graduate who also jumped rope at Ohio State.
She is a former Kings Firecracker and Kings graduate (2015). She also jumped rope at Ohio State
“I left the Firecrackers after my eighth-grade year but kept jumping for pleasure because it was one of my favorite things to do,” she said. “I got involved in college helping the team.”
That was before long-time coach Lynn Kelly retired and Powell would occasionally help at practice and also go watch the Firecrackers perform.
“I grew up in the Kings community. I knew about the Firecrackers for a long time,” she said. “When I was younger I was on the cheer team and involved in an after school dance program. In high school I was on the track and dance teams. But the Firecrackers were always my first love.
“I picked it up pretty quick when I started jumping with help from neighborhood girls who were Firecrackers. I would also go to clinics because I wanted to be part of the Firecrackers.”
Powell’s mother told her she was not “organized enough” to audition for the team in the fourth grade but that changed by the end of her fifth grade year.
“It was a big deal then to be on the team and still is today. The kids work hard to put on great performances. You are looked up to in the community. They are the face of Kings (schools) and represent our city and school and it is a big honor for them to do that,” Powell said.
This year’s team has two fourth-graders and two seniors with the rest from grades 5-11. The team has 29 shows this season and its first travel show is Jan. 12 for the Chicago Bulls.
Powell says some of the fan-favorite routines do not change year to year but the team does have new things this season that fans have not seen before.
“These girls practice about two hours a day four or five days a week to make sure we have an exciting show for the fans in Rupp Arena and other places to see,” the assistant coach said.
The 27-year-old Powell, who works in sales for her full-time job, helps Firecrackers who need extra work or can conduct practice if Hamilton is unavailable.
“I just try to help as much as I can and in any way I can because I love what the Firecrackers do,” she said.
2 Responses
Have seen the Firecrackers and they are the best halftime show
in the world. They are more than amazing. Worth the priice of
admission by themselves.
best by far Larry
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