Guadalupe native and wrestler Josh Rodriguez is on a determined road to the Fila Junior Pan American Championship in Toronto, Canada, this summer.
“I like the competitiveness, the one-on-one aspect,” Rodriguez said of his sport. “It’s all up to you and how you perform. It comes down to who works hardest.”
Rodriguez began wrestling in junior high school. Upon graduating from Ernest Righetti High School in 2012, he signed to wrestle at North Dakota State University with his brother, Anthony.
“We room together and are having the time of our lives,” Rodriguez said. “When we’re home for the summer, we train together in our garage.”
The wrestler finished his sophomore year as a redshirt, a decision he and his college coaches made together.
“My freshmen year I placed second in conference, just shy of the NCAA Championship Tournament,” he shared. “I decided to redshirt so I could spend more time learning and training.”
Rodriguez recently competed in the Fila Junior National Tournament in Las Vegas where he took the national title in Greco Roman and fifth place in freestyle.
His efforts at the tournament gained him the attention of the USA national wrestling team, which selected him to participate in the Fila Junior Pan American Championship in Canada on June 25. Rodriguez will compete against wrestlers from North and South America and the Caribbean.
“I was eating in the dining center at school when I got the call. I was in shock, but I knew it was a great opportunity,” he said.
Rodriguez said he is training three to four times a week and running each day. His ultimate goal is to win two gold medals.
“My wrestling goals are to take first in both styles for Team USA, three national titles, and maybe [make it to] the Olympics in 2020,” he said. “Right now, it’s just day by day.”
After the summer, Rodriguez will return for his junior season of wrestling at NDSU, which starts in October. He is currently pursuing a degree in sports management and has plans to coach wrestling after college.
“I love what I do and want to keep doing what makes me happy,” he said.
In an effort to make this trip possible, Rodriguez has been reaching out to the community for donations. His goal is to raise $2,000 for expenses to Toronto. Rodriguez is grateful for the wave of support he has received so far and said anything will help.
If anyone is interested in making a donation, contact Angel Rodriguez at 720-1906. Donations are needed before June 9.
This article appears in Jun 5-12, 2014.
