Weslaco High’s Joshua Rodriguez is the quintessential definition of a student-athlete.
As a student, Rodriguez put in the hours in the classroom and worked his way to earn the title of Weslaco High’s 2020 class valedictorian. As an athlete, Rodriguez repeatedly came through in the clutch for the Panthers on the basketball court, hitting some big-time shots in big-time games.
The same competitiveness that compelled Rodriguez to excel at basketball carried over into the classroom, which resulted in finishing ranked No. 1 in his graduating class, a goal he set out to accomplish his freshman year.
“I’m a very competitive person, and I’ve learned that as I’ve matured throughout middle school and high school as you start to find yourself a bit. As I started playing sports, and when someone from another city challenges you, you get the feeling inside you (that), ‘This guy can’t show me up, I have to be the best,’” Rodriguez said. “The same thing would happen with school. I just wanted to show that I was the best, no matter what, in all facets, in academics and athletics.”
Most nights during basketball season, Rodriguez was home and started on homework by 8 p.m. On game nights, even later. Enrolled in AP and college classes, Rodriguez remembers some nights staying up studying and working past 2 a.m., just to wake up a few hours later to attend early morning practice at 6 a.m. with the Panthers basketball team.
That never affected Rodriguez’s performance in the classroom, however. He worked his way up from No. 2 for part of his sophomore year and junior year, to finish on top at the end of his four years at Weslaco High.
Administrators from Weslaco High and Weslaco ISD drove by Rodriguez’s home Tuesday to present him with a banner recognizing his achievements.
“They came to my house, drove in and started honking like crazy. I walked outside and talked with Principal (Yvett) Morales and she announced me as valedictorian. Some of my family was here. It was a cool moment,” Rodriguez said. “It was nice getting rewarded for the two facets of my life that I focus on most, which is academics and athletics, and it was a cool moment to experience with my family.”
| Weslaco High senior basketball player Joshua Rodriguez was a standout on the court and in the classroom as he was named Weslaco High’s 2020 Class Valedictorian. In this courtesy photo, Weslaco High administration presents Rodriguez with a banner recognizing his achievement as class valedictorian on Tuesday. Courtesy Photo – WHS News |
Being recognized by the Weslaco ISD administration for his work in the classroom was one of many memorable moments Rodriguez made this year, which includes some big time plays on the basketball court.
Rodriguez helped lead the Panthers into the second round of the playoffs and was able to get a taste of the big leagues as Weslaco High took on McAllen Rowe at Bert Ogden Arena, home of the RGV Vipers. From the professional locker rooms to the stands and bright lights inside the arena, Rodriguez made sure to savor the moment.
“It was unreal. It felt like we were NBA players and we were getting ready for Game 7 of the NBA Finals. For us in high school, it was the moment for us, and to have the whole Valley come out and watch us, it was a great feeling,” he said.
| Weslaco High’s Josh Rodriguez (10) drives to the basket against South San Antonio’s Jonas Carlisle (35) in the finals game of the PSJA Tri-City Basketball Tournament at PSJA North High School on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, in Pharr. (Joel Martinez | [email protected]) |
But perhaps his brightest moment on the basketball court happened by playing for someone else.
Rodriguez built a tight bond with all his basketball coaches, but with Weslaco hoops assistant coach Trey Smith, in particular. Smith’s wife, Amy, is battling cancer, so the Panthers rallied around the motto of playing #ForAmy.
On the night the Panthers were set to host the Edinburg Vela SaberCats in a crucial District 31-6A game, Smith was by his wife’s side in the hospital. Not being able to be at the game, Smith’s phone lit up with a text message from Rodriguez before tip-off.
“I texted him before the game that I was going to play the game for him and his wife. Because me and Coach Smith are very close. I wanted to show him that I was there for him,” Rodriguez said.
Hours later, Rodriguez and the Panthers found themselves in a 68-68 game with just seconds remaining. Rodriguez received a pass and dribbled past midcourt, splitting two Vela defenders at the 3-point line, darted through the top of the key and put up a floater that banked off the glass and into the basket for a Panthers’ 70-68 buzzer-beater win. Rodriguez finished the game with a team-high 23 points.
“Josh texted me he was playing for my wife. Then went out and did that. Had me in tears,” Smith said in a text message the night of Rodriguez’s buzzer-beater against Vela.
🚨Final Score
Weslaco 70
Edinburg Vela 68@joshuarodz10 with the game winner. #ForAmy 💜@rgvsports @hoopinsider @KRGVSports @kgbtsports @bybryanramos pic.twitter.com/p5bmYllaOI— Weslaco Panthers 🏀 (@WeslacoHoops) January 29, 2020
“That game, I just played, and that moment kind of encapsulated that night,” Rodriguez said of his game-winner against Vela. “It was definitely rewarding when he told me he and his wife were watching live in the hospital. Even though she was having trouble, I was able to put a smile on her face and make her happy for that moment. Stuff like that is invaluable.”
After graduation, Rodriguez will head to the University of Texas at Austin, where he’ll major in a Plan II Honors Program with hopes to eventually attend medical school. He thanked his parents and coaches for supporting him throughout his juggling of academics and athletics for four years
“Looking forward to the future, I’m excited; it’s a whole new chapter. It’s a little scary and a little exciting at the same time,” Rodriguez said. “I’m excited for all the hard work I’m going to do in college, as well. I know that being valedictorian is just a stepping stone, so I know that whatever I did in high school doesn’t mean anything unless I build on it, so I’m excited to build on that success in college and see how much I can impact the world.”