A freshman is determined to leave her mark, just as both of her parents did
The Takashi name has deep roots in Pacific Sports History. Graduating in 1997, Guy Takahashi, the father of now Pacific Student athlete Makaila, was a heavyweight wrestler at Pacific. Takahashi placed fourth in the 1994 and 1995 national championships and a two-time NAIA West Region Champion. Vallie Wells Takahashi, the mother of freshman Makaila Takashi, graduated from Pacific in 1999 and was a four-year starter on the softball team as a shortstop and second baseman. She was also named Pacific’s Female athlete award as a senior and was a two-time All-West region selection.
Following in those footsteps, Makaila Takahashi, a dual sport athlete in soccer and wrestling, is dominating her freshman year. Takahashi was a starting center-back all fall season long for the women’s soccer team and now is shifting to wrestling.
“Personally, my main goal this year was to improve as much as possible and prepare myself for next year,” explained Takahashi. “In high school and college, all men’s wrestling is folkstyle, but women’s wrestling changes from folkstyle to freestyle when you go into college, so I have been working on learning the new style and finding what works best for me.”
Makaila is the women’s team’s 155-pound wrestler, and on January 14, the Boxers competed in the Oregon Classic. That day Makaila gave quite the performance getting first place and crowned champion in her weight class, going 3-0; two wins by fall, and one by technical fall, scoring her team 20.5 points. The win is just the start of Makaila’s journey here, as she knows there is more for her that she can achieve.
“Winning the tournament was great, and I enjoyed the win for a little, but I know that there are still improvements to be made, and I need to keep up the hard work,” said Takahashi. “It made me feel that I was finally learning and understanding the new style, and it has given me more confidence in myself.”
Makaila is looking to achieve her goals and to reach the heights of her historic parents on the way.
“Being at Pacific means so much to me because I got to see the positive impact it left on my parents and I’m glad that I’m sharing a similar experience,” said Takahashi. “I want to join them in the Hall of Fame, which has made me work harder as an athlete and in school. Their history at the school has made my connection to Pacific stronger, and it makes everything mean more.”
As the season goes on, the Takahashi name will, once again, be one people will look out for in the conference. — Zander Breault
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