By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
At the end of the 2021 3/2/1A state wrestling match, Matthew Rodriguez stood on the second place step for the second year in a row.
The Southeast Junior had fallen in a shock upset to a wrestler that he had beaten time and time again, and no contentment could be found in the expression on his face.
“I wasn’t happy with that finish and it didn’t feel like an accomplishment,” Rodriguez said. “I think it made me better knowing that I needed to work harder to get where I wanted to be.”
This year, after a grueling season of victory after victory, Rodriguez climbed the podium to the top step to accept the honor of state champion.
“I’m extremely pleased and happy for him,” SES wrestling coach Chuck Schremmer said. “Matthew knew the goal after what happened last year and he put in a lot of work over the summer to make it happen on the mat and in the weight room.”
Rodriguez finishes his season an astounding 34-1 with a win over the #1 overall wrestler in the state and an individual title at 182 in Class 3/2/1A.
While the matches took place over the weekend, the title was earned over the offseason, and by the time the Trojan senior arrived at the meet, no one was capable of standing in his way.
“I’ve had kids take second but I’ve never coached a champion,” Schremmer said. “To be honest it was a weird feeling because I knew he was going to win it before we even got there so I was excited but I wasn’t jumping up and down.”
It was all business on Friday and Saturday for Rodriguez, who wasted no time eliminating Conner Simmers 17-2, Jake Kirchhoff by a fall and Triston Vande Velde by a 13-3 major decision before finishing Plainvilles Ben Hansen in 2:33 to claim his prize.
“That feeling of standing on that top step was big,” Rodriguez said. “That’s what I’ve been typing to accomplish for the past four years and that’s the dream that I’ve had.”
While Matthew has wrestled his final match for the purple and white, his long-standing effect on the program has inspired and instructed a new wave of young Trojan wrestlers who will look to be the next to follow in his footsteps.
“His impact on this program is huge,” Schremmer said. “The junior high kids saw what can happen when you work hard and stay with it and that’s much bigger than anything I could ever do.”
Rodriguez has not committed to any college yet but is expected to compete at the next level.
For more on SES wrestling, stay tuned to the Salina Post.