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Mom's Memory Fuels Soccer Star's Rise
18 Sep
Summary
- Sophomore Mikey Roberts excels in soccer, honoring his late mother.
- His mother, Kristy, a teacher, died in June 2023 from stage 4 colon cancer.
- Roberts leads his team with 11 goals, playing through hip pain.
Chesterton sophomore Mikey Roberts is excelling on the soccer field, driven by the memory of his mother, Kristy Zakhar-Roberts. She passed away on June 1, 2023, at the age of 44, following a diagnosis of stage 4 colon cancer in February 2023. Roberts, who cites his mother as his primary inspiration and biggest supporter in sports, now plays every game with her in mind.
Roberts is currently the leading scorer for the Chesterton Trojans with 11 goals and three assists. The team is performing well, ranked No. 9 in the Class 3A state coaches poll and contending for the Duneland Athletic Conference title. Despite ongoing hip issues that surfaced last season, Roberts has managed the pain and increased his training, a discipline he attributes to his mother's influence and his family's resilience.
His dedication has earned him praise from his coach, Will Fortenberry, and teammates like captain Hutch Stuckert. Roberts aspires to play professionally, a promise he made to his mother, and believes the Trojans have the talent to compete for a state championship this season, drawing strength from his family's unwavering support following his loss.
