Christian Myrick is representing Team USA with plenty of pride.
The rising Deer Park sophomore has already had a dream summer, helping the United States capture gold at the USA Football Junior International Cup in Los Angeles and further establishing himself as one of the top flag football players in the country in his age group.
“I expected football to go well … but I never thought Team USA would happen,” the speedy wide receiver and defensive back told The Post.
Myrick stood out among nearly 1,800 of the nation’s best 15-and-under flag football players during the months-long process leading up to the June tournament.
“It made me proud because I honestly didn’t even want to try out, because I didn’t think I was going to make it,” Myrick said.
“I’m glad I did,” the teenager added after delivering one of the tournament’s memorable plays — a leaping 50-yard touchdown in Team USA’s 47-14 championship victory over Japan.
Passing expectations
If anything, Myrick may be underselling just how talented he is.
As a freshman at Deer Park, he became a varsity standout, lining up wherever coach Cody Ciolino needed him. In addition to his regular roles with the Falcons, the then-14-year-old contributed at quarterback, running back and safety.
“When we take a step back this year and look at it, he accomplished all this as a 14-year-old,” Ciolino said of his all-state athlete, who boasted 12 touchdowns and 825 yards.
“He has that natural leadership. As a freshman, there were kids, juniors, seniors, that were looking up to him.”
After all, football is in Myrick’s DNA.
His older brother, Matthew, is a defensive lineman at Post University, and Myrick’s dad, Rodney, was a semi-pro player who fostered Christian’s love for the game.
“My dad would coach from the sidelines to help me out and see things that I didn’t see,” Myrick said. “It helped a lot.”
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There is one more member of the Myrick clan who got Christian ready for his big break — his older sister, rising 12th-grader Olivia.
“My sister actually started out playing tackle with me before flag,” he said.
“I would play up, she would play down, and we would be playing together on the same team.”
Flag bearer
Playing the game at the collision level only made Myrick better at flag, pushing him to work on his jukes and other finesse moves to keep opponents from grabbing his cloth.
It became routine for him to play in tournaments all over the Northeast, where Myrick’s name became synonymous with winning.
Myrick has a casual 40-plus championship rings — and some medals — in his five years of flag play.
“What I really want is to add a varsity title to the ring collection,” Myrick said.
“And an Olympic gold medal,” added the teenager, who dreams of playing for either Ohio State or LSU — before catching passes from Jaxson Dart as a New York Giant.
For now, Myrick is thriving in being a hometown hero and wants to keep making Deer Park proud.
“It’s been great; my friends actually started calling me Team USA,” Myrick said, laughing.
Ciolino also has high hopes for what Myrick will bring to the field when wearing shoulder pads.
“I think he should have everyone in Deer Park excited with his ability,” the coach added.
Along with preparing for tryouts with Team USA’s 17-and-under roster, the high-flying Falcon wants to cement success in his other sports: as a shooting guard in basketball and a talented runner in the spring.
“I want to have a bigger role. I know I have a pretty big role in football, but in the other sports, I feel like I can do better,” Myrick said.
“I want to make sure I get that done.”
