"I had a great time; it was fun," said Romero, who won a gold medal while playing soccer in Gothenberg, Sweden.

Romero was a part of Team Nitro, a United States all-star team that won the under 13 gold medal at the Gothia World Youth Cup, a famous soccer tournament held each summer. The Nitro, consisting of girls ages 11 and 12 from throughout the U.S., was one of about 1,500 boys and girls teams in various age groups. The team was sponsored and formed by an organization called Sports Tours USA.

Romero was picked to the team after going through a selection process that included a tryout, an application, letters of recommendation from her local soccer coach and teachers and a personal interview.

Once she received the good news that she was selected, Brianna and her mother, Debbie, set to work raising the $3,500 needed for airfare, lodging, some meals, tournament fees and a uniform. Sports Tours USA provided various fundraising tools to earn the needed monies. One tool the Romero used was selling raffle tickets for sports memorabilia.

"We were very blessed to have raised the money for her trip through ticket sales as well as donations from friends and family," said Debbie Reyes, who did not make the trip to Sweden with her daughter. "I would have loved to accompany Brianna on this trip but didn't have the financial means to do so.

"I was so proud that she represented the United States so well and had the incredible experience."

Brianna, who plays club soccer locally for Sunnyvale United, is very serious about her sport. In fact the coach of Team Nitro asked her to return to his team for the next Gothia Youth World Cup.