Matthew Rodriguez Aiming for the Record

Ridgeview High School’s star wrestler, Matthew Rodriguez, has been working hard since the last wrestling season and has been preparing to compete to win the state title. For the past two years, Rodriguez was close to winning the state title by winning state runner-up. This year, he is determined more than ever to not only bring home the first-place trophy but set a record in US history. What is that record? In wrestling, wrestlers receive pins after various victories. This upcoming season if Rodriguez receives 58 pins in addition to the 164 pins he already has, he will have the most pins in the US for high school wrestlers. With his dad by his side coaching him and the determination to succeed, there’s no doubt that he will win the record. 

With there being high expectations this season, one can imagine the amount of pressure there must be for Rodriguez to aim for two high honors, but he remains hopeful and focused.

“I hit exactly 58 [pins] last year, but obviously coming up short of that state title that gives me that motivation, so I wouldn’t really change anything,” said Rodriguez. “I just keep the same mentality I’ve always had, but I think just changing my perspective that I only have one more chance to win keeps me in it.”

Rodriguez is committed to attend Lehigh University located in Pennsylvania. The university is a part of the NCAA Division 1 competition wrestling, so safe to say that Rodriguez will continue to be in good hands once he graduates high school. While there, he plans to major in public health and health sciences with the goal of becoming a physician in the military. 

Read the rest of his story in ITG Next Florida High School Sports Magazine November 2020 here for free!