2021
Competed in the discus in five meets for the Bruins, improving upon his previous mark in each of his final four competitions … Made his UCLA debut at the Ben Brown Invitational, where he finished 11th overall with a toss of 41.50m (136-2) … Went 42.89m (140-8) at the Jim Bush Legends Invite, good for 11th place in the competition … Finished eighth overall at the Bob Larsen Track Meet with a throw of 43.95m (144-2) … Took seventh place in the discus at the Stanford Invite, posting a toss of 46.44m (152-4) … Earned a season-best mark in the discus in the Bruins’ dual meet against USC, going 46.49m (153-2) for sixth overall.
2020
Did not compete in his first season with the Bruins.
High School
Competed in the discus and shot put for Newbury Park High School … Won the CIF State Championship discus title his senior year with a throw of 191-11 … Tossed a personal-best 195-0 in the CIF state prelims ahead of his final victory … Won 11 of the 17 discus competitions he entered in the 2019 season … Picked up a pair of 12lb shot victories his senior season, including the Don Green Invitational in which he posted a personal-best mark of 48-08.00.
Personal
Grew up in Newbury Park, Calif. … Son of Mary and Steven Cruz … Has one sibling, sister Lorena Cruz … Was a five-time recipient of the Principal Scholar Award at Newbury Park High School and earned a 3.9 GPA … Decided to become a Bruin because “UCLA made me feel the most at home” … Plans to major in biology.
Competed in the discus in five meets for the Bruins, improving upon his previous mark in each of his final four competitions … Made his UCLA debut at the Ben Brown Invitational, where he finished 11th overall with a toss of 41.50m (136-2) … Went 42.89m (140-8) at the Jim Bush Legends Invite, good for 11th place in the competition … Finished eighth overall at the Bob Larsen Track Meet with a throw of 43.95m (144-2) … Took seventh place in the discus at the Stanford Invite, posting a toss of 46.44m (152-4) … Earned a season-best mark in the discus in the Bruins’ dual meet against USC, going 46.49m (153-2) for sixth overall.
2020
Did not compete in his first season with the Bruins.
High School
Competed in the discus and shot put for Newbury Park High School … Won the CIF State Championship discus title his senior year with a throw of 191-11 … Tossed a personal-best 195-0 in the CIF state prelims ahead of his final victory … Won 11 of the 17 discus competitions he entered in the 2019 season … Picked up a pair of 12lb shot victories his senior season, including the Don Green Invitational in which he posted a personal-best mark of 48-08.00.
Personal
Grew up in Newbury Park, Calif. … Son of Mary and Steven Cruz … Has one sibling, sister Lorena Cruz … Was a five-time recipient of the Principal Scholar Award at Newbury Park High School and earned a 3.9 GPA … Decided to become a Bruin because “UCLA made me feel the most at home” … Plans to major in biology.