There was something about the sport of wrestling that appealed to Willie Rodriguez when he was in seventh grade. At the time, Union City Recreation had just started a wrestling program, and the small and slight-of-build Rodriguez thought it was a perfect sport to try.
“I was too small to play football,” Rodriguez said. “I weighed less than 95 pounds. I figured I could try wrestling, because it was different than any other sport. In fact, it was harder than any other sport. It took determination and focus. But I thought that if I could wrestle, I could do anything.”
When Rodriguez first started out, he wasn’t naturally gifted on the mat.
“I just started and I was getting beaten up,” Rodriguez said. “I had to learn to get tougher. It was very hard at first, because I really didn’t know what I was doing.”
Throughout the learning process, Rodriguez wondered if he would ever improve.
“There were times that I thought that I just wasn’t going to be good,” Rodriguez said. “I just toughed it out. I learned the sport and eventually got better and better. I wasn’t going to let anything stop me. I just had to work harder at it. But I didn’t know where it would take me.”
When Rodriguez first enrolled in high school, he went to St. Peter’s Prep, but lasted only one year there. He was a back-up wrestler with the Marauders, which had one of Hudson County’s most established and successful programs.
After he left Prep, Rodriguez enrolled at Union Hill, which still had a fledgling varsity wrestling program.
“I wasn’t worried about fitting in at Union Hill,” Rodriguez said. “I just wanted to get a chance to wrestle.”
Rodriguez did exactly that, quickly becoming the most successful wrestler in the program’s history. He won 22 matches as a sophomore in 2008 at 103 pounds, winning the District 16 championship, placing third at Region 2 and earning a berth at the NJSIAA state championships in Atlantic City, the first Union City wrestler to achieve such a distinction.
Last year, Rodriguez achieved even more success, competing now for the unified Union City High School. Competing at 112 pounds, Rodriguez won 36 matches, finishing second at District 16 and at Region 2, going to the state championships in Atlantic City once again, but this time, he won two matches and fell just one win short of placing among the top eight in the state and earning a medal.
Rodriguez has continued his winning ways this season for the Soaring Eagles, competing at 119 pounds. He has posted a 24-3 record thus far and is preparing for next week’s District 16 tournament at North Bergen, with the goal of once again finishing his season in Atlantic City, but this time, standing on a podium with a medal draped around his neck.
Even more impressively, Rodriguez is now just one win away from 100 career victories, which would mean he would become the first Union City wrestler to ever reach the 100-win plateau. There is only one other active Hudson County wrestler with 100 wins, namely Kevin Innis of St. Peter’s Prep, the top-ranked wrestler in the state at 215 pounds.
Rodriguez has been called as “the pioneer of Union City wrestling,” a title he so richly deserves.
And for his efforts, Rodriguez has been selected as The Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week for the past week.
Union City head wrestling coach Ryan Lewis has marveled at Rodriguez’ accomplishments and achievements.
“I think what Willie has done is extremely impressive, because he’s the first one from Union City,” Lewis said. “It’s a testament to his hard work and dedication. He works hard all the time and steps up to the challenges of facing tougher opponents. He’s set the tone for where we want to be as a program. He’s the one who put us on the map by getting to Atlantic City, then winning two matches there.”
Lewis said that Rodriguez’ demeanor is also something to admire.
“He sets the tone by example,” Lewis said. “He doesn’t boast or brag. He is extremely humble and respectful. He works with the others and they all look up to him. He doesn’t carry himself above the rest of the team. He’s always cheering the others on.”
Lewis said that he believes Rodriguez is ready for the upcoming tournaments, although he’ll more than likely be the third seed in the 119-pound class at District 16 behind Corey Monteforte of Cliffside Park and Jorge Reyes of North Bergen.
“It’s going to be the toughest weight class at the Districts,” Lewis said. “I think he’s at the point where he’s ready to get it going. It’s the most important part of the season. I think he’s ready.”
“I know what it takes to get there,” Rodriguez said. “My confidence is building.”
Rodriguez not only practices with his teammates regularly, but he also goes three times a week to a special wrestling club in Fairfield called Scorpions, where he drills with some of the best wrestlers in the area.
As for reaching the milestone?
“I think getting to 100 wins is a goal that every wrestler should want to reach,” Rodriguez said. “It’s a very big achievement for me, because no one had ever done it before. Hopefully, there will be others who will break 100 now as well. It was good to be the first. I’m very proud of it. I think I set an example for other Union City wrestlers. I might not be the best wrestler, but I was the first.”
Yes, a true pioneer.
After the season is over, Rodriguez hopes to go to a college that has wrestling.
“I never want to stop wrestling now,” Rodriguez said.
He may get his wish. The United States Merchant Marine Academy, which is coached by former Prep standout wrestler Greg Ilaria, has been recruiting Rodriguez. Ilaria was a highly successful lightweight wrestler in his days at the Prep and later The College of New Jersey. It may be a marriage made in wrestling heaven.
“Willie went for a visit there and liked it,” Lewis said. “He’s a tremendous athlete and has the skills to be a good college wrestler.”
And carrying the banner of being the pioneer of Union City wrestling for a few more years to come. – Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.