Calexico — Vincent Memorial freshman Jessica Manriquez was recently selected to represent the United States in flag football for the 2024 Junior International Cup tournament in Los Angeles.
Manriquez, 15, joins Calexico High School's Paula Cruz as the second local player to compete in the tournament. However, Manriquez will be part of the 15-under team and Cruz will play on the 17-under team.
Manriquez tried out last month in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was selected as one of 18 players on Team USA's roster. She attended a three-day tryout that she likened to the NFL combine. Manriquez said she held drills and scrimmages as the team's coaches watched, trying to figure out what the players could do and where they could be best positioned.
“I was really excited,” Manriquez said. “I'm very grateful (to have been selected). I'm going to work hard, stay focused, and do my best to represent America.”
Locally, Manriquez plays for both the Vincent Memorial team and the Bad Rabbits traveling team, which also includes Cruz. She has played wide receiver, center and safety for Vincent, but she will not play on defense for Team USA. Manriquez ranked 66th in the nation last year with 10 interceptions and caught 50 passes for 761 yards and nine touchdowns. She added another touchdown during her season with Scotland. Her total score of 67 is good enough to rank her among the nation's top 200 players, and she ranks 103rd in receiving yards. She is also a member of the Vincent Her Memorial women's basketball team.
Manriquez has only been playing soccer for three years. Before she was on the field, she was a gymnast, she said. However, one day she encountered other girls training in the park, which piqued her interest.
“My mom did the research for me,” she explained. She said, “She asked me if I wanted to play, so she started playing.”
Although Manriquez enjoys all aspects of soccer, he says his favorite moment is when he steps onto the field and the game begins.
“I love the energy on the field,” she said. “I love how it makes me feel. I forget everything else outside of the game and focus on the field and what I can deliver.”
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Another thing she enjoys is the opportunity to travel and see new places. In addition to her trip to Charlotte, Manriquez also played in Orlando, Florida and Cancun, Mexico. She has visited most of these places with Cruise and says being with her fellow players from her hometown is very special to her.
“I think it's really great to be able to share that experience with her,” Manriquez said. “We’re from the same place and it’s great to be both there together.”
Manriquez's next trip will be back in Charlotte at the end of May for another camp that will determine the active roster for the International Cup tournament. Twelve women will be selected to compete on Team USA, with the remaining six competing as alternates. She will then head to Los Angeles to compete in the actual tournament, which will be held from July 9th to 12th at Dignity Health Sports Park, home of Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy. She and Cruz, along with the rest of the Bad Rabbits, will travel to Ohio for another tournament later in the summer. Manriquez hopes all this will pay off and she can eventually achieve her ultimate goal of competing in the world's biggest sporting event.
“I want to go to the Olympics in four years,” she said. “I really want to play flag football there and represent my country.”
