Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - On Sunday, Puerto Vallarta's team of 12-year-old players won first place in the 2014 Highland Park International Youth Soccer Tournament. Hosted by the Highland Park Sister Cities Foundation, the games were played at Chicago's Olson Park over the Fourth of July weekend.

The Vallarta team was on a winning streak throughout the 2-day competition, overwhelmingly winning a series of games to reach the finals and bring home the first place trophy. Other teams participating in the tournament included Deportivo Highland Park, a team formed by the Hispanic community in Highland Park and Highwood; AYSO Highland Park; Lake Forest Select and Chicago Fire Juniors North.

"We had great response from the local Mexican community," said Richard Wolfe, a vice president of the Sister Cities Foundation for the Puerto Vallarta connection. "People wanted to come out and see how the Puerto Vallarta team played because they have such great players."

During their stay, the Puerto Vallarta representatives marched with the Sister Cities Foundation in the Highland Park Fourth of July Parade, took a guided tour of Chicago, and participated in other Fourth of July weekend events.