Whether she’s lifting spirits on the sidelines or lifting heavy in the weight room, Elk City senior Makenzie Brooks brings unmatched pride, energy, and heart to everything she does. “For cheer, I would love to make all the kids happy at the games I go to, and for powerlifting, I would love to go to state,” Brooks said. Balancing two sports — cheer and powerlifting — along with a full slate of activities, she represents Elk City’s brown and white with passion and positivity.
As “Emily the Elk,” Brooks carries the school’s spirit — literally.
Her main focus this season? Keeping the crowd fired up while keeping her teammates focused on the big goal. “To win state in cheer,” she said simply. “Our team’s biggest strength right now is genuinely just school spirit!” It’s a strength she takes seriously — every time she steps into the Emily suit, Brooks sees it as a chance to bring pride and positivity to everyone around her. “My mindset when I step on the field is to go bring pride to the brown and white!”
Behind the smiles and celebrations, there’s a lot of hard work that most people never see. “We spend countless hours perfecting our routines and preparing for games, pep rallies, and every event we take part in. Our goal is to bring back the spirit of Elk City — to make everyone at Elk City High School bleed brown and white and feel proud of our tradition.”
Her favorite moments come when that effort pays off — in the smiles of younger fans. “Getting to see all the kids dress up for homecoming and hearing all the kids say they love hanging out with me,” she shared. “That means the world.”
Brooks hopes her time at Elk City leaves a mark deeper than any cheer or lift. “I want my legacy to be about kindness — to treat everyone with respect, no matter who they are,” she said. “I want to be remembered for standing proud for the brown and white, showing school spirit, and representing Elk City with pride wherever I go.”
A 5’5 senior, Brooks benches 135, squats 310, and deadlifts 300. She’s also Vice President of FCCLA, active in NHS, Student Council, Key Club, Senior Class Committee, Choir, and musicals. After graduation, she plans to attend Oklahoma Christian University to major in Early Education — continuing her passion for spreading joy and building up others.
