Andrew Rodriguez '18 Recruiting Profile

Hello, my name is Andrew Rodriguez and I have been swimming ever since I can remember. I started my swimming career in 2005 with the Ripon Community Swim Club, and I have been swimming for them ever since. As I have grown up, I have done other sports along side swim, but I have always put swim before them. Over the course of my swimming career, I have won two first place state high point awards, a second and a third place state high point award, I have attended the Central Zone Select Swim Camp by USA swimming, I have also attended multiple Speedo Sectionals meets, and I have used my swimming to help others. The best thing I ever did with my swimming was in January of 2015 when I heard of a 9 year old child, Isaiah, in Colorado, whose family had connections with our church, that was suffering from leukemia.  On top of that, his parents had left him and his little brother with their grandparents and while visiting Isaiah in the hospital, Isaiah's grandfather died unexpectedly of a heart attack. I had asked my parents what the best way to raise money for Isaiah was, and we came to the conclusion that raising money through my swimming was the best idea. I had an A+ swim meet coming up and I was going to be donating my own money every time I swam and my parents were going to be doubling the amount every time I improved. At first, we expected to raise only about 70 dollars, but we had asked our church and swim club members to donate if they wanted to, and that alone changed that number of 70 dollars to 600 dollars in a week. The family was so happy with the turn out.  I was even given a bracelet with Isaiah's name on it as well as a hand written card from the grandmother of Isaiah. I have always wanted to help people by doing something I love and this was the perfect opportunity for that. My goals are that, I just want to go as far as I can with swim no matter where it puts me. Currently I am looking at trying to make some more yard  Junior National cuts as well as some meter cuts. I don't want to do anything less than my best and I especially hate giving up. My cross country coach told me once that I had a strong reputation for not giving up and not giving in. With all of this being said, I would love to go to the 2020 Olympic trials and make the team. Sometimes when I tell my friends about this goal, I get the question, "aren't you afraid," and I always respond with "no." The harder the challenge is, the more I want to succeed. I enjoy sportsmanship and good competition; I also enjoy the atmosphere that a supportive team can give and the competition that we give each other. I am also a very musical person. I currently play the alto and tenor sax, as well as the piano and upright bass. I played alto sax my freshman year, for our Jazz Band, and this year play the upright bass, electric bass, and some tenor sax. Being the son of a pastor, I was born into a religious family and my faith is very important to me. I look forward to my college years and seeing where my swimming will take me.