With COVID-19 halting all sports since early March, this stopped athletes from excelling on the pitch. Since soccer season lands in the fall, Rio Hondo’s women’s soccer team has not played a seasonal game since 2019. But, it did not stop sophomore soccer athlete, Serina Vargas.

Winning It All

Graduating with an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice, Vargas gained a 3.89 GPA and has been awarded Female Athlete of the Year. During her time as a Roadrunner, she helped her team win a South Coast Conference Championship in 2019. She also won the 2020 Team Academic Award, leading to an eight-year award streak for Rio Hondo College. This West Covina native joined the California Community College Soccer Coach Association (CCCSCA) Academic All-State Team. She ends her RHC soccer career with 19 goals and six assists, being first-team starter in 31 of 37 games.

Vargas Academically Excels

This two-time South Coast First-Team forward made an impact on the field and in the classroom. Vargas was on the Honor Roll for five semesters and maintained a high GPA.

“We are proud of what she has contributed to the women’s soccer program during her time with us,” said Jennifer Tanaka-Hoshijo, head coach of the RHC women’s soccer team. “She has consistently demonstrated a tremendous spirit and determination that we believe will help her be successful in all of her future endeavors”.

Her Next Steps Forward

Vargas was surprised to hear about the award.

“I’m star-struck and didn’t know I was nominated for [the award],” Vargas said. “Playing at Rio made me strive to be the best I can be. It taught me [that] with success comes failure and with failure comes lessons to be learned”.

Serina Vargas continues her academic career at Cal Poly Pomona as a Political Science major, hoping to also continue her soccer career.