The name Rodriguez in Wagoner athletics has become synonymous with success over the past decade, and the latest Rodriguez, Gabe, has certainly lived up to the success of his brothers, Roman and Malcolm before him.
All were multi-sport athletes with one of those sports being in wrestling.
“My dad wrestled when he was younger, and he loved it and feels that it builds character and grit,” Rodriguez said. “So I got started at around four years old and watched my brothers wrestle, and they’ve always been my inspiration. I borrowed some of their style and added some stuff of my own. We’re a very competitive family, and whether it was athletics or just horsing around, you wanted to win at everything, and that often led to some sibling wrestling fights.”
Rodriguez was also a member of Wagoner’s state championship football team this year but hurt his shoulder during the championship game and has not been able to wrestle so far this year, which hurts after having qualified for state in wrestling last year.
“It’s been really frustrating not being able to wrestle, especially since it’s my senior year,” he said. “The doctors have said the shoulder won’t require surgery, but it needs rest so I’m not sure if or when I’ll be able to come back. It just eats at me to have to sit on the side and watch the other guys compete.”
In addition to wrestling and football, Rodriguez also plays baseball and runs some of the relays in track. In school, he is on student council, the National Honor Society and is in FCCLA.
While Rodriguez has been on two state champion football teams, it was this year’s win that will stand out for him.
“Winning the championship this year is my highlight,” he said. “We lost our first two games, but we had a lot of fight and grit. And then coming back to beat the team in the title game that beat us by 40 earlier in the season was really amazing.”
Rodriguez will attend Oklahoma State next fall as a preferred walk-on in football and has his thoughts on how he would like to be remembered.
“I’d like to be remembered as not being the biggest or tallest athlete, but as the guy who worked hard and showed up every day and was a good person,” he said.
