RESEDA — What started as a game of catch became a goal and now a dream for Cindy Martinez, a 5-foot-4 junior on Cleveland High’s girls flag football team.
Martinez competed this summer in Canada for the Mexico U/17 team, in the city of Brampton, Ontario, at the UA World Cup. She returned to the United States with more confidence and a larger trajectory to hit in the fastest growing women’s sport in the country.
Representing her Mexican heritage is a desire for Martinez, whose family originates in the state of Jalisco. Her family travels back and forth to Jalisco, sharing family stories and traditions that are shared between her country of birth and heritage of origin.
“I learned this summer in Canada just how big flag football really is,” Martinez said.
Watching her older brother Anthony play for Cleveland High as the football team’s kicker inspired Martinez to join the flag football team as a freshman. Anthony’s performances and playing catch with her father, Daniel, in her family’s backyard inspired Martinez to follow in her family’s passion.
“I definitely hit hard now,” Martinez said after guiding Cleveland (2-2) to a 33-6 victory over Brentwood on Tuesday.
Martinez’s first step and hands are athletic. When combined with her leadership, coaches at Cleveland believe they’ve found a player who will earn a scholarship to play in college. Martinez leads Cleveland in touchdowns and interceptions.
She is also a starting defensive midfielder for the school’s soccer team.
Her skills and dedication are transcending both sports.
“She works the hardest,” Cleveland coach Tony Reece said. “She motivates everyone on the field, and lucky for us, she’s only a junior and is going to get a lot better.”
Reece has watched his program grow after players agreed to an early-morning training regimen. Practices started at 7 a.m. with full attendance and buy-in. Martinez was the motivating voice in Cleveland’s “player-led structure.”
“It’s paying off, and the team is coming together,” Reece said. “The team is only going to get better through (Martinez) being a captain.”
Martinez is taking notice of the little girls who are beginning flag football at 9 years old and are attending her games, including the daughters of her coaches at Cleveland.
She also connected and befriended players younger than her during the tournament in Canada. She recognizes the platform she holds both as a talented athlete intercepting passes and knowing what she’s passing along with her performances.
“They like how tough I am on the field,” Martinez said. “No matter how big or tall, because I’m not big or tall.”
Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith embraces flag football at Oaks Christian
Lauren Jesic finds natural fit at QB for Chaminade’s flag football team