Faces of MAC

Junior member and sixth grader Kai Nozaki recently received an invitation to join the Pacific Northwest Perfect Game team, going on to represent the region in the prestigious National All State Select Championship in Houston, Texas, Nov. 3-5. Nozaki’s team went 5-1 and made it to the semifinals, placing fourth out of 25 teams.

Perfect Game is one of the preeminent baseball scouting and event organizations in the U.S, hosting youth and high school baseball showcases, tournaments, and combines. The National All State Select Championship draws talent from around the nation, and this year, a total of 25 teams competed for the top spot.

“Being invited to play at this invitation-only tournament — I am one of only two 12 year olds on my team — has great significance for me because I dedicate a lot of time and effort to my passion for baseball. Seeing my hard work pay off is really cool,” Nozaki says.

His deep love for baseball springs at least partly from the friendships he’s formed through the sport. “There’s also something special about being out on the field that brings me immense joy. I started playing baseball at the age of three, and reaching this level of competition required a combination of hard work, dedication, and some luck.”

Nozaki also views being a MAC member as a great privilege. “I know many kids who wish they had a place like this to come to and train. The MAC has been instrumental in my development as a player. The availability of The Cage (especially in the super rainy off season!) and the time I’ve spent working on my hitting and pitching skills there have greatly contributed to my progress and getting me to where I am today.” He also is appreciative of the cross-training capabilities of spaces such as the Fit Zone, Climbing Gym, Basketball Gym, and pools.

Apart from baseball, Nozaki enjoys playing soccer, basketball, and football, and his favorite academic pursuit is math. He credits his enthusiastic pursuit of all these passions to top-notch coaching and caring parents, who have always supported him, on and off the field. “They have been my biggest cheerleaders and I am truly grateful for their support,” he says.

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Despite being cautioned against playing sports as a child, Cody Davenport ultimately proved that you can’t keep an Ironman down. He recently completed his first such triathlon in Madison Wisconsin, a remarkable accomplishment for someone who had been diagnosed with iritis — posing a risk of blindness — and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).

“Training for and competing in my first Ironman was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had to date,” Davenport says. “I was immensely proud of the amount of work I put into preparing, so the race was almost like a bonus at the end.

“The hardest part for me was striking a balance between life and training because they don’t always play nicely together. I ended up battling mentally with thoughts that I hadn’t worked hard enough, but I think that’s natural for all first-time Ironman athletes.”

Around age 8, Davenport discovered he had JRA and Iritis, the latter an inflammation of the iris, or colored part of the eye. Beyond beautifying people’s peepers, the muscles of the iris control the amount of light admitted through the pupil, making it fundamental to eye functionality. JRA compromises the immune system, typically resulting in episodic pain, which makes it tough to diagnose and treat.

“For me, JRA showed up in my ankles and knees, which made it challenging to participate in sports or consistent physical activity until I was in remission. Fortunately, I reached remission in the latter half of high school, though I still occasionally have flare-ups in my knees,” Davenport explains. “The desire to train and compete in Ironman came from me wanting to see how I’d do as an athlete since I hadn’t had that experience in life before. If I was going to try to be an athlete, I may as well go big to hold myself accountable.”

Davenport adds that his family, friends, and MAC have been “very helpful” in getting him ready for his race and aiding his recovery after. “My wife, Dorothy, was there for me in so many ways during the training; from being flexible with schedules to help me fit in training to driving an hour from home to pick me up when my bike broke, she was never anything but positive, and I can’t be thankful enough.”

Facilities-wise, he’s grateful to have regular access to a 50-meter pool and strength and conditioning spaces. Davenport credits Aquatics staff such as Colin Aslett and Jana McGill for lessons and regular pointers on his swim stroke, as well as Patrick Fisher for overall triathlon planning support. Then there’s the Triathlon & Running Committee, which provided him with developmental funding to offset race-related costs in addition to plenty of opportunities to learn from other endurance enthusiasts.

“Right now, I’m focusing on continuing to build my strength and conditioning so I’ll be faster in next year’s races. I don’t have another Ironman on the books yet, but I have my eye on a few ultramarathons and short-distance triathlons next year.”