Player Elise, coach Tom Markham share special family connection on Cheboygan soccer pitch

CHEBOYGAN – It’s never easy being the coach’s kid.

And when you’re talented, there’s almost an added pressure to perform even better.

For Cheboygan freshman midfielder Elise Markham – the daughter of coach Tom Markham – she’s doing more than fine right now in the early stages of her career with the Chiefs. The youngest of three daughters in the Markham family, Elise has stood out by immediately, making a significant impact on the pitch this spring.

But if you ask Elise’s dad, it’s not even a surprise that she’s made it this far already, especially when he knows his daughter has more of a passion for the game than most.

“I think all three of my daughters love soccer, no doubt, but this kid eats, sleeps and drinks soccer, and every game she seems to be getting better,” Coach Markham said of Elise. “Where we set the bar, she seems to step up to it, and having the mental focus to stay in it. She is definitely one of the hardest workers in the game.”

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Prior to making Cheboygan’s varsity squad, Elise still found herself around her father and the program by filming the team’s games. Now playing under her dad, you can surely bet there’s no special treatment being given on either side. Sometimes it’s friendly, sometimes it can be frosty. But the player-coach relationship between the two serves a real purpose and benefits the program.

“I mean, he treats me like any other kid, pretty much,” Elise said of her dad. “I have high expectations, and he has high expectations for me. “I’ve (learned under my dad) that you’re a team, one player doesn’t do everything, we all have to work together, you have to work hard and be good.

“We always joke around, and he tries to light a fire under me, encourages me. Sometimes I get yelled at, but I mostly deserve it.”

On the field, Elise has already made her presence known in a huge way, consistently providing the Chiefs with strength in the central midfield area. Recently, she had her biggest game yet, scoring a team-high four goals and lifting Cheboygan to a victory over Big Rapids Crossroads.

“I just tell myself to be confident in that I earned a spot and that you have to work hard,” Elise said.

Watching Elise’s four-goal barrage was a proud father moment for Markham, who previously coached his daughter Elizabeth at the varsity level, while his oldest daughter Emily played under longtime Cheboygan coach Mark Stormzand. For decades, soccer has been a major staple in the Markham family.

With Elise being the last of the three who will go through the program, it’s all bittersweet for Coach, who looks forward to seeing his youngest daughter develop even more on the pitch.

“It’s tough because (Elise) is my baby, and I’m just proud of her,” Coach Markham said. “She’s just been so excited to play soccer at the high school level.”

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As for Elise, she’s excited to continue the long journey with her father, someone who’s been an influential figure from the very beginning. No matter when it ends, they’ll be there together – as a soccer family.

“I couldn’t imagine anything without soccer,” Elise said. “Some of my best memories growing up were soccer. It’s been great (so far).”

Cheboygan hosts Houghton Lake in a 5 p.m. Northern Michigan Soccer League clash on Tuesday.

Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan's Elise, Tom Markham a special daughter-father soccer combo