“We chose to participate in this program primarily for Brodyn to make friends with typical peers who lead with values and by great example,” said Heidi, whose son, Brodyn, is matched with the Akron baseball team.
“Nate Currah does that every day.”
So when it came time to nominate his Teammate of the Year, Brodyn had no doubt Nate was his guy.
Nate and Brodyn’s connection sparked pretty instantly as soon as Brodyn joined the team. What started as a new friendship turned into a heartfelt testament to the kind of leadership and values that define what it means to be a teammate. “Nate is just a fantastic young man, and he stood out to Brodyn among a field of other amazing young men,” Heidi said. Brodyn joined the Zips when Nate was a freshman who was living away from his family in Canada for the first time. “He still had the courage to be a part of this program and to prioritize Brodyn,” Heidi said, “even when he was going through his own obstacles and challenges being away from home.”
Nate not only embraced Brodyn onto the team but also spearheaded so many moments of support off the baseball field. He visited Brodyn at home to celebrate his birthday, sent messages of encouragement when he wasn’t feeling well, dressed up to take Brodyn trick-or-treating, and helped rally the entire Akron baseball team to volunteer for Brodyn’s Challenger League baseball games. In fact, there wasn’t a single fall ball game that Nate and the Zips didn’t show up for.
For Brodyn and Heidi, Nate’s support has impacted more than their family. His leadership, commitment, hard work, and dedication have solidified him as a teammate, friend, and role model—not only to Brodyn but to so many who know him. “We feel that Nate is Teammate of the Year,” Heidi said, “not just for all the things he has provided Brodyn personally with his friendship, but also because of the impact he’s made on so many other children as well. So many people have been impacted here in Akron by Nate and Team IMPACT and Akron baseball, and we are so grateful.”
