A future first-generation college student, Righetti High School senior Emily Lopez had zeroed in on Santa Barbara City College as her school of choice for awhile.
She will indeed go there for the 2020-21 school year, pursuing her career goal of being a teacher and looking to continue her water polo career as well.
"I will go to Santa Barbara City College to train with their water polo program," said Lopez. "They have an awesome program.
Area athletes have been pulling in scholarship offers to continue their football careers at the next level.Â
"They have an awesome campus." Besides, with its campus across the street from the water front, "Who wouldn't want to live (in the SBCC area)?," said Lopez.
A three-year varsity player, Lopez has been an integral part of a rising Righetti girls water polo program. The Warriors won in the first round of the playoffs each of the last two seasons.
Lopez, who has also been active in the Righetti swim program, carries a 4.6 GPA at Righetti. She was the Righetti nominee for the 2020 Northern Santa Barbara County Athletic Round Table Female Scholar Athlete of the Year scholarship.
Schools closed statewide in March because of the pandemic. Team workouts went out the window too, and the CIF state office formally announced on April 3 that all spring post-season sports events were cancelled.
The last sports events on the Central Coast took place March 13.
"(The cancellation of team workouts) has been really hard on aquatics athletes," said Lopez. "It's been really crazy, with the shutdown of the pools. I used to do three workouts a day."
Now, "I've picked up running a lot," said Lopez. "I train with a close family friend."
Lopez said, "We (aquatics athletes) work very hard. It's very difficult to simulate a (swimming) stroke when you're training on land."
Last year, Lopez wrote in her scholarship essay, she developed a passion for coaching.
She worked with junior high school students. "Coaching is a lot harder than it seems," said Lopez.
"I love the kids. I love working with the kids, seeing them progress. They've taught me more than I've taught them. I'm very grateful to have had the opportunity to coach."
With a little extra time on our hands, we are taking a look into the past of prep sports on the Central Coast. Our sports staff has been going…
Lopez plans to major in liberal studies, in either humanities or communications, and wants to teach at either the junior high school or elementary school level.
"I hope to teach either art or English," Lopez said.
"I've been interested in art for a long time. I'm artistic, and my grandparents were very artistic. I like abstract art best. I do some abstract art in my spare time."
Speaking of home, that is where Lopez is continuing her high education at this time, doing online learning, as are students across the nation, with school campuses closed.
"I'd rather be in the classroom, for sure," she said. "I really like working with other students, teachers.
"There's no way online learning can replicate that," said Lopez. "But you have to do what you have to do."
As for her water polo career, "I would love to play at the four-year (university) level," she said.
After her time at SBCC is done, "I hope to transfer to UCLA, or maybe Berkeley or UC Santa Barbara," said Lopez.
"UCLA is my dream school."
Photos: Emily Lopez's days at Righetti
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Righetti seniors, from left, Emily Lopez, Quinn McGinty and Ella Hood lead a core of returning players for the Warriors' girls water polo team that hopes to improve on its second-place finish in the Mountain League from 2018.Â
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Righetti water polo player Emily Lopez.
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Righetti water polo player Emily Lopez.
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Righetti water polo player Emily Lopez poses for a photo with One Way Water Polo coach Charlie Bell. The recent Righetti High grad plans to continue her playing career at Santa Barbara City College.
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Emily Lopez, a recent Righetti High grad, plans to continue her water polo playing career at Santa Barbara City College.
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Righetti senior water polo players Emily Lopez, Ella Hood and Quinn McGinty pose for photos after their final home game Tuesday against Atascadero.
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Righetti senior water polo players Emily Lopez, Ella Hood and Quinn McGinty pose for photos after their final home game Tuesday against Atascadero.
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Righetti senior water polo player Emily Lopez is emotional after playing her final regular season home game for the Warriors last fall.
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Righetti senior water polo players Emily Lopez, Ella Hood and Quinn McGinty celebrate their Senior Night after their final home game Tuesday against Atascadero.
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Righetti senior water polo players Emily Lopez and Ella Hood celebrate along with teammate Quinn McGinty (not pictured) after their final home game Tuesday against Atascadero.
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Righetti's Emily Lopez takes a shot at tying the game as the clock runs out against Arroyo Grande at the Eagles' pool on Tuesday. The shot went wide.
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Righetti's Emily Lopez scores against Arroyo Grande at the Eagles' pool during a game last October. The recent grad plans to continue her playing career at Santa Barbara City College.
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Righetti's Emily Lopez looks for a teammate during Wednesday's Mountain League game against Morro Bay. Lopez scored four times as the Warriors won 13-6.
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Righetti's Emily Lopez possesses the ball during Wednesday's game against Morro Bay.
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Righetti's Emily Lopez passes against Morro Bay on Wednesday.Â
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Righetti's Emily Lopez defends against Morro Bay on Wednesday.Â
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Righetti's Emily Lopez has to put her cap back on after scoring one of her four goals against Morro Bay on Wednesday.Â
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Righetti seniors, from left, Ella Hood, Quinn McGinty and Emily Lopez lead a core of returning players for the Warriors' girls water polo team.
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Righetti's Emily Lopez reaches up to block a shot away during Tuesday's PAC 8 League game against Paso Robles. The Warriors won 9-7 in overtime.Â
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Righetti's Emily Lopez looks for an opening during Tuesday's PAC 8 League game against Paso Robles. The Warriors won 9-7 in overtime.Â
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Righetti's Emily Lopez drives during Tuesday's PAC 8 League game against Paso Robles. The Warriors won 9-7 in overtime.Â
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Righetti's Emily Lopez passes against San Luis Obispo's Amberly Clark.
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Righetti's Emily Lopez tries to pass under pressure from Arroyo Grande's Sara Stipanov.