[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13349]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING CRISTIAN ROLDAN, RECIPIENT OF THE 2012-2013 GATORADE NATIONAL 
                  BOYS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LINDA T. SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 10, 2013

  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, today I am here to 
congratulate Cristian Roldan, who is the recipient of the 2012-2013 
Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year Award. This is an 
amazing feat that deserves our recognition.
  In 1985, The Gatorade Company established an award to recognize high 
school athletes across the country. Since then, more than 12,500 
students have been honored with the award of State Player of the Year 
and 250 National Players of the Year. This prestigious list includes 
many top professional athletes such as Payton Manning, Lisa Leslie, and 
Derek Jeter. The Gatorade Player of the Year award is presented to high 
school athletes that have achieved athletic excellence as well as high 
standards of academic achievement and model character on and off the 
field. Cristian was selected as the National Player of the Year out of 
400,000 boys high school soccer players.
  Cristian recently graduated from El Rancho High School in Pico 
Rivera, CA. Cristian, a 5-foot-7, 165-pound midfielder, was without a 
doubt the catalyst of the El Rancho Dons boys' soccer team this past 
season leading them to a 29-2-1 record and the California 
Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Division III title. 
Scoring 54 goals and 31 assists, he also helped the Dons capture the 
Division I title at the CIF Southern California Regional Soccer 
Championships. As the season came to a successful end, Cristian was 
awarded Most Valuable Player of the CIF Southern Section Division Ill.
  In addition to his success on the soccer field, Cristian was a three-
year varsity volleyball player, all while earning a 3.74 GPA his senior 
year. Cristian is a member of the California Scholarship Federation for 
his academic excellence and serves as a peer mentor in his spare time. 
Cristian has displayed his exemplary character by serving as a 
volunteer coach for the American Youth Soccer Organization, 
participating in the El Rancho's Blue Pride service project, and for 
being a member of the Dons' College Bound Athletes Committee.
  Cristian is the fourth boys Gatorade National Player of the Year from 
California and the first from Los Angeles County. Cristian intends to 
play soccer on an athletic scholarship at the University of Washington 
this fall.
  What Cristian has achieved is something that deserves our recognition 
today. Cristian has displayed great academic and athletic achievement. 
I would like to recognize and congratulate Cristian Roldan for 
receiving the Gatorade National Player of the Year Award. I wish him a 
successful college career at the University of Washington.