Seton Catholic Prep senior Michelle Cruz Ceballos will be representing the U.S. in July as a member of the USA U18/U16 dragonboat team in the IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Brandenburg, Germany.

“It is an absolute honor,” Cruz Ceballos said of being selected, via a news release. “Generally, I’ve worked really hard and I’m grateful for all of my coaches, especially, because they have put in the work with me knowing I could reach this level.”

Cruz Ceballos was invited to the Team USA camp for tryouts and was one of 40 members selected to the crew out of the 140 invitees.

Dragonboat racing is a lot like rowing. Crews of as many as 16 people paddling a canoe-like water vehicle that is ornately cut with dragon heads and tails on either end.

Cruz Ceballos has been racing with a dragonboat club in Arizona for seven years and loves the community aspect of the sport, the release states.

“You grow great friendships,” said Cruz Ceballos, who will be racing dragonboats for ASU’s club team next year in college. “We all come together as a community around this one sport, which is honestly amazing.”

The senior representing her country on the world stage is an honor that’s humbling, she said.

“It’s just an amazing opportunity and getting to represent the USA, our country is a dream come true,” Cruz Ceballos said.

The team will be racing in the World Championships from July 14-20 in Germany.

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