Photo courtesy of Aaron Lopez.
A Woodrow Wilson High School graduate is leaving the country to play semipro soccer for the second time.
Isaak Lopez, who attended Lakewood Elementary and J.L. Long Middle School, recently came back from a six-month stint in Mexico. He finished his Woodrow courses virtually so he could play semipro there.
In Mexico, Lopez’s coaches helped him become more aggressive and quicker, he said. Living with his teammates was a new experience for him.
“It was a lot of bonding, and eventually we built chemistry,” he said.
After playing for a while, Lopez received an offer to play second division professional soccer in Mexico — a higher level than semipro.
But, about two months ago, he received an offer to play semipro in Portugal, where he had taken a three-week trip to showcase his skills in front of scouts.
Even though he would be playing semipro, not professional, in Portugal, he decided to take the offer.
“It felt like I belonged in Portugal,” he said.
Lopez, 18, has been playing the sport since he was a kid and has been recognized in athletics over the years.
He’s had a ton of support from his family, including from his father, Aaron Lopez. A former soccer player, he was Isaak’s first coach. And Isaak still asks his dad for help with training and tips.
While he was playing in Mexico, Lopez would call his dad after matches to discuss his performance.
“It’s just a big part of our lives that we’ve always bonded on,” Aaron Lopez said.
In Portugal, Isaak’s goals are to improve as a player and get a feel for European soccer, he said. He also hopes to receive a contract from a second or third division team soon.
And he’d like to one day play on Real Madrid.
“Travel the world doing something you love isn’t a thing that most people even have a chance to think of,” Isaak said.
