Season Interrupted: Nathaniel Gomez is a four-sport, 4.0 man

Throughout the spring, The Times will interview high school seniors whose athletic careers were cut short by the coronavirus outbreak.

Name: Nathaniel Gomez

School: Rancho Dominguez.

Sport: Soccer, football, cross country, baseball

Key stats: Four sports, 4.0 grade-point average; City Section boys scholar-athlete of the year

Fall plans: Will play soccer at Vanguard University

High School Sports

Season Interrupted: Snapshots of high school seasons cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic

A look at the high school sport standouts whose seasons were cut short by the coronavirus outbreak.

April 11, 2020

On the cancellation of the baseball season:

“It was honestly tragic. I was being selfish at first. I didn’t want it to go. I was upset. But I had to look at the bigger picture and realize there’s a lot more going on than high school baseball.�

On life without sports:

“At first, I thought, ‘Oh, just high school.’ I got home, turned on SportsCenter. There was no longer sports going on. That’s when it really hit me. I would go home and feel lost. I never left this early from school. I would go home and watch highlight films. I play the guitar and got a little better.�

How the sports stoppage has changed his outlook:

“Mentally, it changed me in a way I realize you can’t take anything for granted in life and live like it’s the last day you’re ever going to play, as my coach always preached.�

Why soccer won out as his college sport:

“I’ve been playing since I was 3 years old. It stood out because my whole family played soccer. I believe it was my calling since I was young.�

On his 4.0 GPA:

“It’s my family support group pushing me to be the best I can be and guiding me on the right path.�

Where he sees himself in 10 years:

“I hope I have graduated with a master’s in mechanical engineering.�

Video interviews of each athlete can be found at latimes.com/sports/highschool.