Cave Creek teen wins national competition
Marc Buckhout ~ Managing Editor ~ 1/27/2010

Cassie Miller’s athletic skills have her in high demand.
While soccer is her favorite sport, one which has her playing on a travelling Olympic Development Program team, the 14-year-old Cactus Shadows freshman has already shown her talents on the basketball court, helping Desert Arroyo Middle School to a state championship last year as an eight grader.
On Jan. 17 her athletic prowess put her on an even bigger stage, this time on the gridiron.
Prior to the fourth quarter of the AFC playoff game between the New York Jets and San Diego Chargers the teen was recognized as the national champion in the 14-15 year old division in the NFL’s Punt, Pass and Kick competition.
“It was crazy standing there in front of everyone,” she said. “I just smiled and waved, knowing that thousands of people around the world and a ton of family and friends were watching me. I got 50 texts right after the game. Everybody was saying great job and congratulating me.”
For Miller it was her second appearance in the competition. As a 12-year-old, the then Mesa resident, took second in the state.
“I thought it sounded like a lot of fun,” she said of her initial interest.
Her second time around would prove to be even more enjoyable. After winning a city competition in Glendale and then a regional competition she advanced to the state championship, which took place at University of Phoenix Stadium during halftime of the Arizona Cardinals Nov.1 game against the Carolina Panthers.
“I had a good friend of mine in the competition,” she said. “When we made it to the state finals together that was my main goal, just to beat her. I really didn’t think I’d get to nationals.”
After winning the state competition Miller sat and waited patiently to see if she would qualify to move on to the national competition.
“I researched on the web the marks previous national winners had scored and thought I might have a chance,” she said.
Her instincts were correct as Miller had posted the second best marks nationally in the competition, giving her the opportunity to be one of four females in her age group to compete for a national title.
So with the help of her brother Andrew, a junior and Colton Lapa, a family friend, Miller set out to prepare for the competition.
“I knew she had a chance of doing well,” Andrew said. “She throws it great and kicks it even better. For three weeks before the competition we were out there every day one or two hours a day practicing. We took a trip to Mexico over Christmas break and she had a football with her then and she’d throw and kick then too. She was really dedicated.”
Looking at her main competition, a girl from Denver, Cassie said she knew she needed to improve her place kicking. In order to do so she consulted Bryce Redmond, the field goal kicker for the football team.
“He was really encouraging,” she said. “He helped me with my technique. My run up was wrong and then he helped me with my follow through too and I was able to get an extra 10 yards after working with him. That made me even more exciting when I went to nationals.”
Despite her hard work Cassie was still conflicted about the upcoming event.
“I had a big soccer tournament set for the same weekend,” she said of the three-day weekend ending with Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “I talked to my soccer coach and explained that it was a once in a lifetime opportunity so I decided I’d do both.”
After playing in a soccer tournament during the day Saturday in Phoenix, Cassie road to San Diego with her mom, brother and Lapa.
Sunday morning she was at Qualcomm Stadium to compete with the three other finalists, one from Pueblo, Colo., one from Oregon City, Ore. and the third from Alpharetta, Ga.
Andrew, who plays football and baseball at Cactus Shadows, said his younger sister made him proud.
“It was pretty awesome,” he said of her performance. “She never seems to get real nervous. She kept a straight face and stayed calm. I’m not sure how she does it, but she never showed any fear or doubt at all.”
Cassie agreed, that she wasn’t awed by the moment.
“I was really confident,” she said. “I knew what the other girls’ scores had been and what their weaknesses were. I really had them as long as I did what I was capable of. I talked to all of them before hand and they were all saying they were nervous, but I really wasn’t. I went out and had fun and beat them all.”
In a competition which not only rewards distance, but accuracy, taking away yardage for throws or kicks by the amount they are away from the measuring tape, Miller had both the best punt, 119’3”, and best kick 120’6”. Her punt was nearly 23 feet better than her nearest competition. In both kicking events Miller would have finished second in the boys competition.
Her kicking allowed her to overcome the competitions weakest throw.
“My throw was quite a bit off the line, which deducted me a lot,” she said. “If I could have done one thing better that would have been it, but my kick and punt were about as good as I could do so I was happy about that.”
At the conclusion of the competition Miller’s efforts totaled 324’ 10”, which edged the Pueblo, Colo. teen, who finished at 315’5”.
Along with the free stay in San Diego, Miller was awarded an authentic NFL helmet with the Punt, Pass and Kick logo.
“I really like the helmet,” she said.
There would be little time to celebrate as the family, fresh off the victory, hopped back in the car to return to the Valley so Miller could play in the final two games of the soccer tournament the following day.
“We made it back at about 2 a.m.,” the teen said. “I played pretty well in the soccer games even though I didn’t get much sleep. It’s only today (Jan. 20) that I am really starting to feel tired.”
She did however receive a boost at school on Tuesday when her accomplishment was announced to the student body.
“Everybody was coming up and saying good job, that they’d seen me on television,” she said.
While she said her athletic future is in soccer Miller said she’ll compete as a 15-year-old next year in the Punt, Pass and Kick competition.
“It’s my last chance next year and I’ve had a lot of fun doing it so far,” she said. “I’m really thankful for all the help I got from my family and friends.”

NFL PUNT PASS AND KICK CHAMPIONSHIP
14-15 girls

	PUNT	PASS	KICK	TOTAL
MILLER CAVE CREEK	1193	851	1206	324’ 10”
GORDON PUEBLO, Colo.	958	1007	1192	315’ 5”
PRESTON OREGON CITY, Ore.	821	1232	929	298’ 0”
MALONEY ALPHARETTA, Ga.	782	875	1113	276’ 10”