Virginia Polo’s coach of 17 years, Lou Lopez, was honored by the USPA as their inaugural recipient of the I/I Service Award. This award was created to promote those members in the Intercollegiate/Interscholastic (I/I) Community who go above and beyond to support youth and I/I Polo. As anyone that’s spent time at the Virginia Polo Center has seen, Coach Lopez personifies this description, dedicating his time and energy to developing the VA Polo program, its horses, and its players.
Images courtesy of USPA Intercollegiate / Interscholastic Polo Facebook page, @iipolo
Emily Dewey, I/I Tournament Manager, regularly works with Coach Lopez to plan tournaments said, “Lou was chosen based on his contribution to the sport including recent service to the I/I Committee as the Intercollegiate Coaches Representative, head coach and manager of the Virginia Polo Team, his dedication to youth polo and support of new and upcoming I/I programs.”
In addition to his time spent at the Virginia Polo Center, Coach Lopez has also traveled to fledging clubs, including the Keezletown Polo Club outside Harrisonburg, VA, to teach clinics and introduce a whole new group of people to the sport of polo. In the past when a new I/I program is struggling to take hold, the University of Richmond’s polo team for one, Coach Lopez hosted them at VA Polo weekly providing mounts, a facility, and instruction to help them practice and improve as players.
Great job, Coach!