Highland Heights Girl in NFL Punt, Pass and Kick Finals

Catherine Rock, 9, of will represent the Cleveland Browns this weekend at the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick national finals.

"Two years ago, she went with her dad to her first Browns game. It just happened to be the day they had the competition. She said, 'I want to do that,'" said Lisa Rock, Catherine's mother.

Last year, Catherine finished in third place at the team level – the third stage of the competition – with a total distance of 128 yards on two punts, two passes and two kicks. This time, she once again advanced past the first round at Mayfield High School and the regional level to reach the team competition at the Browns facility.

In winning the team competition, Catherine achieved a total distance of 182 feet, 2 inches, which also placed her fourth nationally and earned the trip to Baltimore this weekend for the national finals.

Lisa said there were other team competitions after Cleveland and Catherine – initially second nationally and later falling to fourth place with the top four advancing – anxiously awaited the results.

"Every day, she'd run home to check on the website," Lisa said. "We're all excited. We told her, 'You've won just by getting this far.'"

Nevertheless, Catherine's been practicing and "she's thinking she's going to win," Lisa said. She added that Catherine, who attends , enjoys playing sports. "She plays them all – soccer, flag football, softball."

There are 40 finalists in 10 divisions for boys and girls from ages 6 to 15. The competition will take place Saturday and be aired after the third quarter of the game on Sunday between Baltimore and Houston.