Whiz Kid: Eighth Grader Nasuka Mizuma

Nasuka Mizuma is an eighth grade student athlete in Fort Lee. She takes four honor roll classes, plays three sports and hopes to be playing two musical instruments by the end of the year.

This Whiz Kid has tried a little bit of everything, and the process started by simply following what her brother and sister tried first.

She learned soccer after watching her brother Isana play the sport and also began playing softball after witnessing the success of her sister Yuki.

“I was really young and wanted to follow in her footsteps,” Nasuka said about starting softball in the fourth grade.

Including basketball, this 14-year old student athlete is playing a sport in every season of the year, beginning with soccer in the fall and concluding with softball each spring.

“It’s just a really good experience to meet everyone,” said Mizuma.

But arguably her best and self-described favorite sport is softball. Nasuka pitches for the Fort Lee recreation league as well as a traveling team during the spring months.

“Having her on my travel team is a lot better than having my [recreation] team face her,” said Mike Klein, who coaches Nasuka’s traveling team but opposes her in the town league. “She is the type of player you want on the team and will do whatever it takes to win the game.”

Her mother, Hiromi, plays an integral role in Nasuka’s growth in the sport as both a coach and a personal catcher before games. Through all the guidance, the teenage athlete has received multiple pitching awards and embraces the spotlight.

“The pressure isn’t so bad even though everyone asks me about it,” Nasuka said. “I usually just think that it is me and the catcher…I usually just think it is [my mom] and me and just pitch.”

Off the various athletic fields, the Whiz Kid has been a high honor roll student since the sixth grade. Nasuka is in the maximum four honor roll classes, including language arts, algebra, civics and science.

“I try my hardest,” Mizuma said of doing the best she can in school. “You can’t be perfect in everything you do. As long as you try, you can reach your potential.”

An avid reader, Nasuka tries to read an hour every day and admits that it is sometimes difficult with her busy schedule.

But what some people may not know about this softball-throwing, book-reading, high honor roll student is that she also plays the drums.

“It just seemed more interesting than a different instrument,” Nasuka said. “I might learn to play saxophone this year because that is what my brother and sister used to play."

Recently, Mizuma also participated in a school project to help out other athletes like her. Along with classmates, Nasuka and her team researched local establishments like the community center to see their hours of operations for sports teams to practice in hopes of staying open later.

It was just one of the many things that this member of the Fort Lee community has been able to accomplish under the tutelage of her dad, Yoshirro, her mother, siblings, family, friends and coaches. And the journey is far from complete for Nasuka who will be graduating from the eighth grade and middle school in June. She will then attend Fort Lee High School, where she hopes to continue playing softball and being the honor roll student she has become.

Here is a list of some of Nasuka's other accomplishments, courtesy of friend, Ana Kim:

• All physical fitness awards in gym were Presidential since elementary school
• Holds records in school for fast running and other fitness tests
• Was a member of the Gifted and Talented Program in Elementary School
• Is a percussionist in band

Editor's Note: Know a great kid who made Eagle Scout or did your local soccer team take the championship? They may be our next Patch Whiz Kid honoree. Each week, Fort Lee Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid. Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to erik.wander@patch.com. Be sure to include all of the following information:

● Nominator's Name
● Nominator's E-Mail
● Whiz Kid's Name
● Whiz Kid's Age
● Whiz Kid's School
● Whiz Kid's Accomplishment
● Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness (what made him/her successful?)

If your nominee is selected, we'll contact you and assign a photographer to take a photo. For questions, e-mail erik.wander@patch.com