{"id":356,"date":"2026-06-15T21:36:05","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T21:36:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cambridgemovinghub.com\/?p=356"},"modified":"2026-06-15T21:36:05","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T21:36:05","slug":"crls-ultimate-enjoys-national-tournament-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cambridgemovinghub.com\/?p=356","title":{"rendered":"CRLS ultimate enjoys national tournament experience"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Am\u00e9lie Valenzuela-Melzer graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School nearly two weeks ago, but the new Falcons alum enjoyed a final \u2014 and major \u2014 athletic endeavor to close out her high school experience. Also, her first time on a plane.<\/p>\n

Read more Color girls\u2019 softball champions Ruby Red<\/a><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe entire team, we became much closer together,\u201d Valenzuela-Melzer said. \u201cThe team is very important to me \u2026 and they didn\u2019t have to cry on my senior night.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u2019s legacy. The Falcons (28-4) win against Lakewood and another forfeit, bumped them up to a 13th-place finish.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Per coach Erik Sebesta, the Falcons \u201cexcelled\u201d on the big stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the field, we played our best ultimate of the season and way above what I expected,\u201d Sebesta said. \u201cWe had certain players where the best tournament they played was at nationals \u2026 The extra three weeks of having our season extended just did wonders.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u2019s pool play, but temperatures hovered into the low 90s Saturday on the second day of competition.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Read more An ode to the 71 bus<\/a><\/p>\n

Their full results:<\/p>\n

Friday, June 12<\/p>\n