By Kiara Paul |Staff Writer|
“Every year it got more competitive,” said Coyote soccer player,midfielder, Tony Lo, “when I was 11-years-old I was playing regional soccer.”
By the time he was 13 he was representing his state.
Lo, has been a phenomenal asset for the soccer team this season.
Moving across the world from Sydney, Australia, Lo displays his love for soccer in every game he plays.
Lo recently sat down for an interview with the Coyote Chronicle, sharing his passion for soccer as well as his goals for the future.
The Fall 2014 quarter was Lo’s first year playing soccer here at Cal State University San Bernardino (CSUSB), he started 14 out of 16 games, and began his sophomore year scoring a goal contributing to the first win of the season.
Lo started playing soccer in the third grade, he said, “A man came to my school from a church club saying they needed players for their soccer team. He told me I would make friends and it would be fun. I was really excited and when I got home I asked my parents if I could.”
With his parents’ blessing, Lo began playing soccer and from there he continued to play into his teenage years.
He learned most of his skills from his mentor Jorge Fernandez, a South American coach who taught Lo during his time at a Youth Academy.
“In the two years at the academy, Fernandez taught me most of the skills I know and play with to this day,” said Lo.
He graduated in 2013 with a scholarship to attend CSUSB. He packed his bags for California and moved 7,500 miles to play the game he loves.
Along with him, two players from Austrailia—Luca Falcone and Dylan Murphy—also came to CSUSB.
With new beginnings also brought new lessons for Lo.
When asked what he has learned so far in his journey, Lo said, “pack less winter clothes because it is so hot here, work on my organization skills to balance school and soccer, and just enjoy my time here because I won’t be here for long. I need to take advantage of it.”
Even with soccer as his number one love, Lo also has goals for his schooling.
“As of now I am undeclared for a major, but I am really considering going into Biology-Pre-med,” said Lo, “as for long term goals, I would definitely want to go to medical school.”
Although he would not shoot down an offer for playing professional soccer, “right now I am going with the flow and if there is an offer in the next two years I would most likely take it.”
To his family and friends back in Australia, Lo shares that he misses them very much, but also enjoys California.
“In Australia I would be on a strict schedule for practice and would have no time to hang out with friends. Here in California I have free time and I really enjoy it. I get the best of both worlds, hanging out with friends and playing the sport I love.”
Juggling school, soccer, and friends, Lo is definitely living the college student life.
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