Green Valley girl gets attention for one-handed catch

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015 | 2 a.m.

Green Valley High’s Carolina Velasquez took her eye off the football and dropped a routine pass early in a flag football game last week against Las Vegas.

Later, she made up for the uncharacteristic drop.

Needing 20 yards to pickup a first down, Green Valley quarterback Isabella Cipili heaved a long pass in Velasquez’s direction down the middle of the field. The pass was a little high, but Velasquez reached out with one arm and grabbed the ball in a remarkable one-handed catch.

The play was posted to the Internet and soon Velasquez’s feat was being compared to the New York Giants’ Odell Beckham Jr.’s one-handed catch last year against the Dallas Cowboys. USA Today wrote about her, and CBS and ESPN have reached out asking permission to air the video.

“I was kind of surprised I caught it,” Velasquez said. “It was of a Hail Mary to get a first down. I didn’t think (the catch) would become so big. It’s kind of surreal.”

The 5 foot 11 Velasquez had attempted one-handed catches before in practice, but had no success. In the game, she timed her jump and hauled in the pass.

Her teammates on the sidelines jumped up and down in excitement. She has received congratulatory messages from players on other teams, including classmates who play tackle football at Green Valley.

“Right away, I thought to myself, ‘This has to be a SportsCenter,” said David Torrez, Green Valley’s coach. “It couldn’t have happened to a better girl.”

Flag football became a sanctioned sport by the Clark County School District four years ago, giving girls a winter-sport option. CCSD was the first nationally to offer flag football and its program has copied in Florida, Texas and other states.

The success is witnessed at Green Valley, and in more than one catch by Velasquez, a four-year participant. Green Valley had more than 90 girls tryout for three levels of teams this season and interest in high at most schools in Southern Nevada.

“All of the kids are talking about (the catch),” Torrez said. “It’s going to help the whole sport overall.”

Velasquez is also a goalie in soccer for the LV Neon club team, and typically has a soccer game or practice at night after flag football. Combined with studying, it makes for a balancing act. She hopes the time crunch results in a college soccer scholarship.

Her one catch, arguably, could go a far way. If she could catch a football in such acrobatic fashion, she could also stop a soccer ball.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21