Christian Myrick is waving his flag proudly for Crew USA.
It’s already been a summer time of desires for the Deer Park rising tenth grader, who simply received gold with America on the USA Soccer Junior Worldwide Cup in Los Angeles, cementing his standing as one of many nation’s finest flag soccer stars for his age.
“I anticipated soccer to go nicely … however I by no means thought Crew USA would occur,” the speedy wideout and defensive again advised The Submit.
Myrick displayed his moxie over practically 1,800 of the nation’s finest flag stars who had been 15 and underneath for months main as much as the June video games.
“It made me proud as a result of I actually didn’t even wish to check out, as a result of I didn’t suppose I used to be going to make it,” Myrick mentioned.
“I’m glad I did,” added the teenager, who had a leaping 50-yard landing within the 47-14 championship win in opposition to Japan.
Passing expectations
Myrick clearly doesn’t give himself sufficient credit score.
He was a varsity soccer star at Deer Park in his freshman 12 months, enjoying wherever coach Cody Ciolino wanted him — whether or not it was quarterback, operating again or security along with the then-14-year-old’s common roles with the Falcons.
“After we take a step again this 12 months and take a look at it, he achieved all this as a 14-year-old,” Ciolino mentioned of his all-state athlete, who boasted 12 touchdowns and 825 yards.
“He has that pure management. As a freshman, there have been children, juniors, seniors, that had been trying as much as him.”
In spite of everything, soccer is in Myrick’s DNA.
His older brother, Matthew, is a defensive lineman at Submit College, and Myrick’s dad, Rodney, was a semi-pro participant who fostered Christian’s love for the sport.
“My dad would coach from the sidelines to assist me out and see issues that I didn’t see,” Myrick mentioned. “It helped loads.”
There may be another member of the Myrick clan who acquired Christian prepared for his massive break — his older sister, rising Twelfth-grader Olivia.
“My sister really began out enjoying deal with with me earlier than flag,” he mentioned.
“I’d play up, she would play down, and we might be enjoying collectively on the identical workforce.”
Flag bearer
Taking part in the sport on the collision stage solely made Myrick higher at flag, pushing him to work on his jukes and different finesse strikes to maintain opponents from grabbing his material.
It turned routine for him to play in tournaments all around the Northeast, the place Myrick’s identify turned synonymous with profitable.
Myrick has an off-the-cuff 40-plus championship rings — and a few medals — in his 5 years of flag play.
“What I really need is so as to add a varsity title to the ring assortment,” Myrick mentioned.
“And an Olympic gold medal,” added {the teenager}, who desires of enjoying for both Ohio State or LSU — earlier than catching passes from Jaxson Dart as a New York Large.
For now, Myrick is prospering in being a hometown hero and needs to maintain making Deer Park proud.
“It’s been nice; my pals really began calling me Crew USA,” Myrick mentioned, laughing.
Ciolino additionally has excessive hopes for what Myrick will carry to the sector when carrying shoulder pads.
“I believe he ought to have everybody in Deer Park excited along with his capacity,” the coach added.
Together with getting ready for tryouts with Crew USA’s 17-and-under roster, the high-flying Falcon desires to cement success in his different sports activities: as a taking pictures guard in basketball and a proficient runner within the spring.
“I wish to have an even bigger position. I do know I’ve a fairly large position in soccer, however within the different sports activities, I really feel like I can do higher,” Myrick mentioned.
“I wish to make certain I get that performed.”
