Calexicos Cruz is national flag football team

CALEXICO — Paula “Nico” Cruz of Calexico High School recently earned her way onto USA Football’s 17U girls national soccer team. Cruz, a 16-year-old junior, attended tryouts last month and was selected along with 17 other girls from across the country as part of the team that will compete in the 2024 Junior International Cup tournament in Los Angeles this summer.

“It felt so good,” Cruz said of joining the team. “I worked for this. This year was my last chance to make the U17 team and I was so focused.”

Cruz started playing soccer when he was 7 years old. Her father was a soccer player and her sister was playing at the time. She invited Cruz to go to practice with her, and soon Cruz was on the field too. She initially competed against both boys and girls, but soon found her way onto an all-girls team.

“I was happy,” she said. “The boys were faster and stronger, so I felt more comfortable playing with the girls.”

From there, Cruz's football career began. She is currently captain of the Calexico High girls team, ranked No. 1 in the Imperial Valley. She has her own MaxPreps page and is currently ranked fifth nationally with 1,641 total receiving yards. Her total of 160 points scored ranks 13th nationally, while her total of 24 touchdowns is good for 13th in California and 21st nationally.

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She said her biggest career highlight so far was the Bulldogs' inaugural season last year in which they reached the CIF-San Diego Section playoffs, where they lost to eventual champion Bonita Vista, 33-13. Cruz had seven catches for 65 yards and scored a touchdown in the game. She also led Calexico with six tackles.

Cruz primarily plays wide receiver/rusher for Calexico, but will also play center/rusher for the national team. Her next test will come in late May, when she travels to Charlotte, North Carolina, for a training camp to decide which 12 girls will join the active roster and which six will serve as reserves on the team that competes in Los Angeles this summer .

Cruz said what she enjoys most about flag football is the opportunity to travel to new places and meet new people. So far the game has taken them to Florida, New York and Texas.

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“I love meeting new people,” she said. “I met a lot of new people and traveled to new places and that makes me so happy.”

Cruz will be in Charlotte from May 29th to June 2nd. The International Cup tournament will take place July 9-12 at Dignity Health Sports Park, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy. In the past, teams from Japan, Mexico and Canada competed and Panama competed against the US team. The field of participants for this year's tournament has not yet been determined.