Amélie Valenzuela-Melzer graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School nearly two weeks ago, but the new Falcons alum enjoyed a final — and major — athletic endeavor to close out her high school experience. Also, her first time on a plane.
The senior cutter on the CLRS girls ultimate team and the rest of the Falcons rewrote program history this past weekend across the country. Seeded last of the 16 teams at the Ultiworld High School National Invite, the team secured a victory against Colorado state champion Lakewood ultimate at the tournament in Salem, Ore.
“The entire team, we became much closer together,” Valenzuela-Melzer said. “The team is very important to me … and they didn’t have to cry on my senior night.”
Already the first team in program history to make the tournament, any win during the two-day, six-game slate would further cement the 2026 group’s legacy. The Falcons (28-4) win against Lakewood and another forfeit, bumped them up to a 13th-place finish.
Per coach Erik Sebesta, the Falcons “excelled” on the big stage.
“On the field, we played our best ultimate of the season and way above what I expected,” Sebesta said. “We had certain players where the best tournament they played was at nationals … The extra three weeks of having our season extended just did wonders.”
CRLS ultimate began in 2022 with the girls program. They later added boys and a mixed-gender team. The girls earned a bid to nationals after beating top-tier teams around New England and placing second in Division 1 states and third at the regional tournament. That bid only came because another team backed out. But clearly, the Falcons belonged.
The team flew to Portland, Ore. Thursday morning and traveled to the tournament at Pioneer Sports Park in capital city Salem that afternoon. The west coast yielded near-perfect weather during Friday’s pool play, but temperatures hovered into the low 90s Saturday on the second day of competition.
Their full results:
Friday, June 12
- 12-9 loss vs. Lincoln, Washington
- 13-2 loss vs. Holy Family Catholic (Omega) of Cincinnati, Ohio
- 13-2 win vs. Lakewood, Colorado
Saturday, June 13
- 11-6 loss vs. Roosevelt of Seattle, Washington
- 9-8 loss vs. Ingraham-Lakeside of Seattle, Washington
- Forfeit (win) vs. Strath Haven, Pennsylvania due to opponent injuries
“We were being very patient,” said Valenzuela-Melzer, who is taking a gap year before going to college and wants to coach. “For me personally, since I did score a lot in that game, it was my teammates helping out and coaches telling me where to cut.”
The west coast yielded near-perfect weather during Friday’s pool play, but temperatures hovered into the low 90s Saturday on the second day of competition. Each game lasted 100 minutes, and the 12 athletes on the field ran an average of four miles per game. Depth is a priority for future seasons. Most opponents carried rosters of more than 20 players. The teams built relationships with others, especially Four Rivers from Deerfield.
Second-seeded Washburn High School of Minneapolis topped No. 1 South Eugene, Ore. in the final.
The Falcons returned to Cambridge Sunday night, but first stopped to celebrate junior Helena Demissie’s 17th birthday with a full-group brunch Sunday at the International Rose Test Garden in Portland.
“Off the field, this team is just a joy,” Sebesta said. “Everyone on the team likes each other, which is rare in sports, and everybody just supports each other.”
A stronger
Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.
We are now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
Please consider a recurring contribution.