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Cristian Ortiz, a rising senior and star soccer player at Christopher Columbus High School, has been signed to play on the Inter Miami CF Academy U19 Soccer Team.
The Inter Miami U19 team competes in the United Premier Soccer League, a national affiliate of the U.S. Soccer Federation and the largest pro development league in North America. Cristian is the first Columbus soccer player to sign to Inter Miami.
As a winger and attacking mid fielder, Cristian helped lead the Columbus Varsity Soccer Team to win the district championship this past year. It was Columbus’ soccer coach Kameron Clark who saw the talent in Cristian and recommended him to Inter Miami.
“Cristian is a good student, respectful, humble, and most importantly a hard worker,” Coach Clark said. “In every game and every practice he works extremely hard. You can tell this game means a lot to him and that he wants to progress.”
“I’m really excited about joining Inter Miami,” Cristian said. “I know the training will be intense and it will help me to reach my goal of becoming a professional soccer player.”
In addition to forming part of Columbus Soccer, Cristian has played for local clubs and credits a training program that he participated in during the summer of 2022 with Scott Top Soccer for getting him to the level that he is at today. Cristian remembers training five hours per day, six days per week that entire summer. “The work I put in really paid off,” Cristian said.
“Our coaching staff saw great progress in Cristian after that summer, both physically and technically. Once our season kicked off, he was consistently practicing and playing extremely well day after day. This is when I reached out to Inter Miami and he eventually got a try out.”
Originally from Puerto Rico, Cristian’s love for soccer started at a young age. It was a love that his father, a huge soccer fan, instilled in him.
“I remember my father signing me up for teams like ‘Los Tigres’ and ‘Los Conquistadores’ in San Juan when I was very young in elementary school. I owe my soccer success to my father and Coach Clark has also been instrumental. They are helping me get to where I want to be and I am so appreciative,” Cristian said.
“Words can’t describe how proud I am of Cristian,” Coach Clark added. “He has a great opportunity in front of him and I know it will end successfully.”
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