Hard work pays dividends for Kennedy’s Rodriguez

CEDAR RAPIDS - Hard work and determination are paying dividends for Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Logen Rodriguez.

The fourth-ranked 145-pounder is ready to cash in for the postseason. Rodriguez has been focus on his daily development more than what they could produce in the next week.

'It's less about the goals I achieve and more about pushing me as far as I can go and pushing me past that,” Rodriguez said. 'I want to get the most out of this high school experience.”

The Kennedy junior has certainly made the most of his regular season and will attempt to continue it in the postseason, competing in the Iowa High School Athletic Association Class 3A district meet Saturday hosted by Waverly-Shell Rock. He looks for a return trip to the traditional state tournament, beginning Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Rodriguez is 32-3, going 30-1 since the opening weekend of the season. All three losses have been to ranked wrestlers, avenging one and the other to someone at a lower weight. He's excited for the postseason.

'This year has been really good,” Rodriguez said. 'I've felt great all year. I've had a lot of great partners in the room. Everyone has been working hard. They've been pushing me. I've been pushing them.”

The gauge isn't set on past performances or matches. Rodriguez said coaches have helped shape his approach, concentrating how you strive to improve. The product will be wins.

'They talk to us that it doesn't matter about your achievements,” Rodriguez said. 'It's how you work in the room, how you push yourself, how you react to different situations.”

The work in practice is where Rodriguez has made his strides. He is one of the Cougars' captains, leading by example.

'As a junior, he's really figured out the importance of maximizing his drilling, his foot speed and footwork and it has transferred to the mat in competition,” Kennedy Coach Dennis Hynek said. 'He gets the most out of all his practice. The old quote of first one in and last to leave is him, for sure.”

He has always had a passion for wrestling. In addition to the Kennedy coaches, older brother and former Cougar wrestler, Ryan Rodriguez, was a big influence from an early age.

'When I was in elementary and middle schools, watching him wrestle, I couldn't wait to get into this room,” Rodriguez said. 'I wanted to do better than he ever did.

'He definitely helped me out a lot, getting ready for high school, and pushing myself to get the most out of everything.”

Rodriguez has been a strong rider and good mat wrestler. He has worked on becoming a better all-around wrestler. Hynek said he makes it hard on opponents, because he has maintained his strength on top and raising his ability in neutral and underneath.

'He's one of those wrestlers an opponent has to really decide what position he wants,” Hynek said. 'Going down isn't the best idea, because he's pretty tough on top.”

A good indicator came at the Geneseo (Ill.) tournament in January. He defeated Pleasant Valley's sixth-ranked Christian Foote, who beat Rodriguez in the opening week of the season. Rodriguez won, 12-10, in overtime, demonstrating his capability to attack for more than six minutes.

'You could tell by the end of the match the kid was just done,” Hynek said. 'He had enough, because Logen kept on him and on him. I would say that was my favorite of his matches this season.”

Saturday won't be easy. The district field includes Waverly-Shell Rock's seventh-ranked Zach Waggenhoffer and No. 8 Mac Spotts, of Mason City. Hynek said Rodriguez seems to be peaking at the right time.

'He's ready to go,” Hynek said. 'He hasn't slowed down one bit.”

Ninth-ranked Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Cedar Rapids Washington, Cedar Falls, Waterloo East and Waterloo West also will compete in the Waverly district. The top two individuals at each weight advance to the state tournament.

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