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From Castro Valley to the talk of American soccer

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SAN JOSE — The graduation invitation remains on his football coach’s refrigerator six years later.

That’s how strong of an impression Nick Lima left on Castro Valley High School coach Nic McMaster.

“Nick is the kind of leader you hope for because he is selfless,” said McMaster, now the school’s assistant principal.

Lima, who starred in football, soccer and track and field for the Trojans, has used a team-first attitude to suddenly become the hottest name in U.