By: Abby Ramirez
Coaches frequently tell their teams that they cannot succeed without hard work and drive. At the core of any sport, these two characteristics are the deciding factors that push teams to victory. The same goes for the individuals; athletes must devote themselves to their sport and put in immense effort in order to be able to succeed and move from one level to the next. Sometimes, that fire burns so fiercely that it pushes the athletes toward success.
Senior Cordelia Cross is a prime example of this passion. At age seven, Cross started to play soccer in the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) at region 174. However, as she became older, Cross’ competitive spirit could not be satisfied by AYSO, so she decided to test her level of play in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL). After playing on two different teams, she soon realized that club soccer was not the right atmosphere for her either, and decided to move on.
After trial and error, Cross finally landed on a team named the Eagles. Here, she found the competitive, friendly environment that she had been searching for her whole career thus far.
“I spent 4 years of my soccer career at this club, which was by far the best thing for me. The coach at Eagles truly helped me develop as a player. I learned so many incredible things and turned into the player I’ve always wanted to be,” Cross said.
During her time in ECNL, and later in Academy soccer, Cross realized that her passion to play was less of a hobby, and more a way of life. The sport and friends she met along the way taught her the meaning of hard work, resilience, humility, and also gave her the strength to overcome any obstacle put in her path, whether that be an opponent or a personal goal.
Between the array of different teams she has been on including the school’s varsity team, Cross has faced a multitude of different opponents on the field. Some teams posed more of a threat than others, but regardless of their rank, she was always up to the challenge. She has come out on top on multiple occasions. Over the last few years, her teams have won multiple highly competitive tournaments, such as the Surf Cup and National Cup. She also won the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) championship both years she has played on the school’s team.
Cross was also invited to be a part of an Olympic Development Program (ODP), in which different states play against each other in one grand tournament. She and the rest of the Southern California team won the championship and came out victorious. Cross was later chosen as one of the top 11 players in the whole tournament, which would later allow her to compete on the national team.
Despite all the success, Cross still worked hard and tried to compete at the highest level possible to be a part of the best teams. As she grew older, she realized that this meant playing at the collegiate level. So, over the last few years, she dedicated herself to trying to make this a reality; all of her blood, sweat, and tears were shed to be able to take this next step.
In due time, her hard work paid off. After visiting multiple different schools, Cross committed to the University of Oklahoma in the October of her junior year on a full scholarship for soccer.
“The feeling of actually getting committed is like nothing else I have ever experienced; it is truly humbling and amazing,” Cross said.
Between the array of different teams she has been on including the school’s varsity team, Cross has faced a multitude of different opponents on the field. Some teams posed more of a threat than others, but regardless of their rank, she was always up to the challenge. She has come out on top on multiple occasions. Over the last few years, her teams have won multiple highly competitive tournaments, such as the Surf Cup and National Cup. She also won the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) championship both years she has played on the school’s team.
Cross was also invited to be a part of an Olympic Development Program (ODP), in which different states play against each other in one grand tournament. She and the rest of the Southern California team won the championship and came out victorious. Cross was later chosen as one of the top 11 players in the whole tournament, which would later allow her to compete on the national team.
Despite all the success, Cross still worked hard and tried to compete at the highest level possible to be a part of the best teams. As she grew older, she realized that this meant playing at the collegiate level. So, over the last few years, she dedicated herself to trying to make this a reality; all of her blood, sweat, and tears were shed to be able to take this next step.
In due time, her hard work paid off. After visiting multiple different schools, Cross committed to the University of Oklahoma in the October of her junior year on a full scholarship for soccer.
“The feeling of actually getting committed is like nothing else I have ever experienced; it is truly humbling and amazing,” Cross said.
The Plaid Press 