Join the Action with Team MAC

Opportunities to Try Out & Compete Are Coming Up

By Jake Ten Pas

The Summer Olympics aren’t just the most thrilling televised athletic event of the year, and perhaps the past four, but also a huge driver of interest and participation in many of the sports featured. At MAC, where young competitors can participate in an impressive array of pursuits combining physical and mental excellence, the impact of the games are likely to reverberate throughout the fall season.

“Coaches and athletes have a heightened sense excitement due to the Olympics,” says Assistant Athletic Director Chad Failla. “We’re firing on all cylinders right now. Great coaches and staff are coming off a successful 2023/24 season, and there are higher participation numbers than we’ve seen in years.”

That means that when MAC Artistic Swimming, Basketball, Climbing, Dance, Gymnastics, Swim Team, and Volleyball hold their tryouts for the upcoming season, they anticipate an influx of enthusiastic hopefuls representing both long-held determination and recently awakened dreams.

When Head Volleyball Coach Taylor Canoso joined Team MAC in 2021, the club’s squads still were riding high off the buzz from the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Although, as Failla points out, her program was in a very different place prior to her arrival. “Volleyball was at its lowest point at that time, and now it is thriving with higher numbers due to Taylor’s leadership and passion.”

“Head Basketball Coach Jon Willis is in the same place now that she was three years ago. The sport is rebuilding, and he is the right coach for the job. His energy and passion are very strong, and we have high hopes for where this program will go. Now would be a great time to try out for MAC Basketball!”

For teams that had a successful 23/24 season, Failla says that 24/25 is set to feel like “coming off a championship year,” and he can’t wait to see how they convert that energy into peak performance and interpersonal camaraderie.

“I grew up playing sports with the same kids from elementary to high school. We don’t see that much anymore with all the different opportunities and boundaries,” he says. “MAC is able to create this inside our community. In many situations, our athletes grow up with each other and continue to participate in athletics through their high school years.”

Although Failla has now worked at MAC for decades, his ascension into the assistant AD role in 2020 only intensified his appreciation of the unique aspects of its culture of sport. “Offering this recreational to competitive transition in one place is definitely a highlight of our programs. Athletes can learn a sport and grow into competition with the same teammates and coaching staff. This creates a seamless transition and in turn strengthens the community of athletes and parents.”

That’s largely due to the quality of club coaching, which includes some of the longest-tenured employees at MAC alongside newer additions such as Canoso and Willis. Whatever their length of employment, all bring a deep knowledge of their respective areas of expertise, so read on to find out how to join one of the club’s winning programs.

ARTISTIC SWIMMING

Tryouts: 5-6 p.m. Aug. 20-22 in the Sun Deck Pool. Only one tryout session is required.

Recent Accomplishments: At the 2024 Junior Olympic Championships, MAC Synchro made program history by winning its most medals ever at a Junior Olympic Championship, with two silvers and three bronze for a total of five medals. The 12U Team qualified and competed in finals, finishing in eighth place. The Youth Iron Man Team placed 14th, and the Youth Thor Team qualified and competed in finals, finishing in 12th place, plus the Youth Combo placed 16th in the nation. The Junior Squad earned silver medals in the 15-17 and 18-19 tech solos, as well as a bronze in the 18-19 free solo. In technical duets, they secured a fourth-place finish in the1517 category, and a bronze in the 18-19 free duet, plus a bronze in the 16-19 combo.

Coach Says: “Adaptability was the name of the season game! Two full-time coaches made it possible for all nine squads to train fully and prepare for a great and technical competition season. Teammates banded together and worked incredibly hard to do all that was necessary in a short period of time.

— Assistant Coach M’Liss Stephenson

BASKETBALL

Tryouts: High School, 6-8 p.m. Sept. 3-4; Juniors, 6-8 p.m. Sept. 23-24; boys and girls are welcome at both.

Recent Accomplishments: Sixth and Eighth Grade Premier teams won DYSports’ Dropping Dimes Tournament, and the latter also took first at the Hoopsource 15 Shootout and Kings of the Court.

Coach Says: “This year, there was a huge effort in uniting the program from top to bottom. We wanted to get back to championship level of basketball. We do this by building a foundation on commitment and fundamentals. We have great coaches in our junior program and, most importantly, our members showed up and showed out for us.”

— Head Coach Jon Willis

CLIMBING

Tryouts: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Aug. 28-Aug. 29, Climbing Gym

Recent Accomplishments: The Climbing Team won Regional Championships for Lead/Top Rope, placed third at Boulder Divisional Championships, and second at Lead/Top Rope Divisional Championships. At nationals, they placed 23rd in Lead/ Top Rope, 25th in Bouldering, and 8th in Speed, for an overall team ranking of 14th.

DANCE

Tryouts: Take place in May each year, but Head Coach Maria Albaugh invites anyone interested in joining to email her at malbaugh@themac.com to learn more.

Recent Accomplishments: A multitude of MAC dancers moved their ways to gold and platinum recognition at the Hollywood Connection Dance Convention & Competition in Vancouver, Washington. They also earned diamond and ruby honors at the Spotlight Dance Cup in Portland.

Coach Says: “The dancers had a great time last season, as did we! At the end of each season, the coaches and dancers run and jump into the ocean to celebrate our season. It’s quite the experience. We are looking forward to another fabulous season, and we will be adding at a minimum of 15 new dancers to the program!”

— Head Coach Maria Albaugh

GYMNASTICS

Tryouts: Take place in May each year. Those interested are welcome to email Head Boys Coach Rob Saliski at rsaliski@themac.com or Girls Head Coach Brin Cavallero at bcavallero@themac.com for more information.

Recent Accomplishments: At girls and boys state and regional meets, numerous athletes placed first, second, and third in both individual events and the all-around.

Coach Says: “The 2024 gymnastics season was filled with hard work, overcoming fear, and building confidence. Athletes pushed through challenges and setbacks and came out of the season both physically and mentally stronger.”

— Girls Head Coach Brin Cavallero

SKI & SNOWBOARD

Tryouts: Generally take place in November each year. A new educational program, Flying M’s, is available for those looking to enhance their skills in a setting with less competition and time commitment. Email ski@themac.com to learn more about it or get specifics on team tryouts.

SWIM

Tryouts: 4-6 p.m. Sept. 10-12, 50-meter Pool

Recent Accomplishments: Won Oregon Swimming 11-14 Year Old Short Course Championships on the girls side two years in a row.

Coach Says: “We have been building on the successes and struggles of the past three years. We have grown our team numbers to beyond pre-pandemic numbers, going from 50 in 2020 to 150 in 2024, compared to 123 in 2019. Not only have we grown in numbers, but we have improved in our team rankings each year and have become a program where we support each other in and out of the pool, other teams notice, and people want to become a part of that.”

— Head Coach Tim Larkin

VOLLEYBALL

Tryouts: 12-14U traveling team 10 a.m.-2 p.m., non-traveling team 3:30-7 p.m. Nov. 10; 15-18U traveling team 10 a.m.-2 p.m., non-traveling team 3:30-7 p.m. Nov. 17

Recent Accomplishments: The 12 Premier team took first in the Power League tournaments twice, 16 Premier did the same three times, and 12, 13, and 15 Elite all took first at MAC Volleyball Tournaments last year. The 15 Elite team earned gold at the North Pacific Juniors Friendship Tournament in February, while 15 and 16 Premier followed suit at the Oregon Junior Volleyball Association Tournaments in February and March. MAC teams qualified for the Columbia Empire Volleyball Association and move up their flights after regionals, while some traveled to Salt Lake City and Sacramento for Showdown and National Qualifiers.

Coach Says: “Our amazing coaching staff made this past season a huge success! We had 20 coaches full of wisdom, experience, and positive energy that made the whole club season a fun experience for athletes.”

— Head Coach Taylor Canoso