Mount Si Wildcats senior football player Slater Macko has had Aug. 15 circled on his calendar for a very long time.

Macko, who will start on both sides of the ball this fall at defensive end/offensive tackle, pushed himself through rigorous workouts all summer long in preparation for his final year of high school football. The first day of practice kicks off on Aug. 15.

The mild-mannered senior’s complete commitment to his favorite sport is undeniable.

“I work out for four to six hours per day. We work out together as a team six days a week at Mount Si. The only day we take off as a team is Wednesday. I also work out at Ford Sports Performance in Bellevue five to six days per week,” Macko explained.

The 6-foot, 1-inch, 237-pound football junkie consumes a plethora of calories on a daily basis to keep the weight on due to his workout routine.

“You just have to eat all the time,” Macko said with a smile.

The Wildcats return a bevy of talented players off of a 2017 squad that finished with an overall record of 7-3. Macko said everyone involved with the Wildcats football program knows what is at stake for the team this fall.

“We’re very excited. We have a lot riding on our reputation right now. That is the biggest thing, we want to live up to that. We have everything to lose, honestly. We have a lot of talent coming back. We have good players and we know we have to prove ourselves. We’re very excited to go out and do that,” Macko said.

Playing in front of the North Bend/Snoqualmie communities on Friday nights is something Macko cherishes with every fiber of his being.

“Out here, everyone comes out for Friday Night Lights. Everyone loves coming out to the football game. That is the thing to do in North Bend,” Macko said of the consistent support from the community. “When we go to other stadiums and we see there may not be that many people in the stands, we realize we are so blessed with a great environment at our stadium. It is totally different from a lot of places and that is a pretty big deal to us. Everyone loves us and we try to give back to our community as much as we can.”

Macko said the Wildcats have complete trust in head coach Charlie Kinnune, who has roamed the sidelines as the Wildcats leader since 1992.

“He has so much experience in his lifetime. When we are in certain situations where the game is really close, he knows how to react to it. He is great coach and a respectable man,” Macko said of Kinnune.

Recently the Snoqualmie Valley Record had an opportunity to ask Macko a few questions about his life outside of football.

Snoqualmie Valley Record: What is your favorite restaurant in Snoqualmie?

Slater Macko: Rio Bravo (Mexican eatery). I love burritos. That is my favorite.

SVR: How many text messages do you send per day?

SM: I probably send 100 at least. I talk to my brother, my mom and my friends.

SVR: What is your biggest pet peeve?

SM: It is definitely when I’m at dinner and someone chews with their mouth open.

SVR: What is your dream vacation spot?

SM: Hawaii. I have never been to Hawaii, but I want to go.

SVR: What is something unique about you that nobody would know?

SM: I love fishing and I love being outside. Relaxing outside is pretty fun.

SVR: Where do you see yourself in five years?

SM: I will be in college earning my degree. I might have a job by then possibly.

SVR: What is your favorite movie of all time?

SM: My favorite movie is “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” I like that one. I grew up watching those with my family. When we went to Disneyland, I went on the Indiana Jones rides.

SVR: If you could pick one person to go to dinner with, who would it be?

SM: Abraham Lincoln. He was a pretty good president. It would be cool to talk with him and see what he thinks about stuff.