Live It, Protect It, Explore It!

View all Newsletters

RUNNING POINT: A LOOK AT RPTA SENIOR AND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STAR ARIANA ELEGADO

By Kevin Mould (RPTA '14), Editor

Fresh off Cal Poly's first trip to the Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament, it is important to acknowledge that this is the second time Cal Poly has made its way onto college basketball's biggest stage. Last year, it was the women's team making history, and a big part of that success was senior Ariana Elegado (RPTA '14), a sport management concentration student from San Diego and the starting point guard for the women's basketball team.

To get where she is, however, Elegado had to overcome a number of obstacles. She initially considered staying at home and playing for the University of San Diego, but Cal Poly ultimately won her heart. San Luis Obispo was the first of the potential new locations she visited, and she immediately fell in love with the town, the campus, and the people. Similarly, when it became apparent that RPTA would allow her to mix her interests with her academics, Elegado knew she had found the perfect fit. After her campus visit, which included spending time with the players and staff, Elegado was offered a scholarship, and after consulting with her family, accepted the offer.

Elegado's first year here was a tough one. As the result of an injury that occurred prior to the start of the season, Elegado had to redshirt, which meant she could not travel with the team. Her role was confined to cheering on and supporting her teammates in home games, practices, and training sessions, and she admits that it was hard to handle.

In her next two years, however, Elegado more than made up for her first-year struggles. She immediately took over as starting point guard at the beginning of her sophomore year and found herself in a definitive leadership role for the team. Her hard work paid off, as the team earned their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth, where they lost to Penn State in the opening round after winning the Big West Tournament.

This past year, Elegado continued her ascension. While the team fell short of their collective goals after losing the Big West Championship game, the team still earned a berth in the Women's National Invitational Tournament (NIT), which ranks just behind the NCAA Tournament in status. Personally, Elegado earned First Team All-Conference honors by averaging 18 points, five assists, and four rebounds per game. She also tied the Cal Poly record for most three-pointers made in a season.

As a result of having taken summer school classes every year, Elegado graduated this June at the end of her third year, meaning that she still has a year of NCAA eligibility. She has considered entering graduate school here at Cal Poly to use her final year of athletic eligibility, but she has not made a decision as of yet. While many have pointed out to her that she has the chance to set a number of school records, Elegado states that she is not focused on personal accomplishments and would rather win as a team, a task which she admits could prove difficult next season. With several departing seniors and at least eight new players next year, the team could struggle in what is projected to be a tough Big West Conference. Should she decide to continue however, Elegado is determined to provide the guidance and motivation that will be needed to develop her new teammates and make them successful.

For now, Elegado has turned her passion into her work and is serving as a game operations intern with WNBA team the Los Angeles Sparks over the course of the summer. Elegado feels that this position and her success this past season are a tribute to what basketball has taught her in her 14 years as a player, and she is appreciative of every experience she has had to learn and grow here at Cal Poly -- especially those garnered through RPTA. When asked to speculate about the future, Elegado says that if she plays for a fourth year she might consider the possibility of playing overseas. Regardless of whether she continues her playing career or makes the transition to life off of the court, she is determined to succeed, and we wish her nothing but the best of luck.

Back to Summer 2014 newsletter

back to top

 

Make a Donation

Make a donation to the Recreation, Parks, & Tourism Administration Department!