Subject: Two brothers were inducted into LV Sports Hall of Fame on May 4 at Northampton Community Center, Northampton, PA By Joe Zemba Lets go back to 1976, wrestling only had one classification and Saucon Valley High School dominated high school wrestling. Wrestling fever overtook the school district and the Panther fans traveled in caravans to meets. The Rodriguez Brothers were just stacking up victims. Rick was a senior state champ, pinning three out of his four opponents out at states, through districts and regionals Rick had nine pins out of 11. Up in Williamsport he was the Millionaire Top Hat champ twice winning most outstanding wrestler and most falls in the least amount of time. In after season tournaments Rick Rodriguez won the Dapper Dan Classic, was named First Team All-America, I was happy with myself at the Dapper Dan when I pinned the three-time Illinois champ who hadnt lost in three years. 1st Team Scholastic Wrestling, culminating his accolodes with being named to the All American Dream Team. He held the most state pins record I had 65 pins and finished with an 88-6-1 record the elder Rodriguez brother said. His journey began finishing thirds in the PIAA State Championship as a sophomore when he won District XI and Northeast Regional championships. Ripper Rick would repeat winning those titles his senior year. If not for an injury his junior year who knows where he would of gone. Rick recalled I was 18-0 without anyone scoring a point on me. Rodriguez suffered a severe injury that ended his season. Rick Rodriguez made the move south for his college wrestling career at North Carolina State. He won the Wilkes Open Championship taking home the Freshman Outstanding Wrestler Award. Next was the Monarch Open Championship and the Most Outstanding Wrestler award. More hardware came Ricks way as he was named College Freshman All-American 1st Team with a 22-1 record with 18 pins. Ricks shoulder got ripped out his sophomore year and his Wolf Pack career was over his record was 44-8 with 36 pins. Rodriguez came back to Hellertown and he and his wife Brenda became the owners of Richardos Tavern House. Since then he has been named to the All-Time District XI Wrestling Team Younger brother Jerry Rodriguez got to have two years of mat magic for the Panthers wrestling at 189 with state crowns in 1976 and 1977. Jerry won District XI and Northeast Regional championships three times. In his senor year at Saucon Valley Jerry registered 28 straight pins. The Panther the #1 ranked wrestler in his senior year of high school. I won the Outstanding Wrestler at the Pittsburgh Classic in PA vs. USA I pinned a two-time Iowa champ. Im proud to say I never lost to an Iowa wrestler in college Rodriguez said. Iowa was everything back then. Jerry came back with another O.W. Award in the USA All Star Meet LSU was home to Jerry Rodriguez from 1977 to 1979. he was a 190 pounder his whole college career and was an SEC Champ in 1979. From 1980 to 1983 Jerry followed his older brother to North Carolina State and was the ACC Champ in 1982 and 1983. Jerry was ranked the number one wrestler in the USA his senior year of college in 1983. Jerry graduated from N.C. State with a B.A. in Sociology and earned his Masters in Social Work in 1990 from Marywood University. For ten years he was a high school and college wrestling official. He became the head wrestling coach at his alma mater and then coached in the college ranks at Moravian College. The younger Rodriguez is a member of the District XI All Time 1st Place Team and is a member of the PA Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Saucon Valley High School Sports Hall of Fame, and is a wrestling member of District XI Hall of Fame and is a member of PIAA Coaches Hall of Fame. The Rodriguez Brothers will be inducted with Becahis State Champion Coach Tony Iasello. Bethlehem Cathoic three sport athlete Mike Guman who became a fullback for Penn State and the L.A. Rams. Bob Parsons of the Chicago Bears pro baseball players, boxers and college football players and former Salisbury Basketball Coach Billy Paulik will round out the 15 inductees There are still openings in the 1st Golf Outing to be held April 27 at the Green Pond Country Club Registration begins at noon Shotgun start at 1:30 PM. Cost to golf is $90 or $435 for a foursome and hole sponsor. Dinner buffet without golf is 6:30 pm, cost is $25. Please make checks payable to L.V. Sports Hall of Fame, 311 Mulberry St. Catasauqua, PA 18032 Donations are being accepted to assist at-risk kids with music and sports programs, trips to colleges. Hole sponsors are still being accepted at $100 contact Janet Cimino of Events Extraordinares.at 610-767-9138 or Premier_00@msn for more information on sponsorships and gifts. Banquet tickets are on sale for $30 and payment can be made to above address. The Induction Dinner begins at 5 Pm at the Northampton community Center, 1601 Laubach Ave. Northampton. Country style dinner will be served at 6 pm. For more information or to advertise in banquet program email roughriderac@gmail. Tickets may be obtained Rodriguez is employed at Lehigh Valley Hospital Center as a behavioral specialist at The Weight Management Center and also works as a sports psychology specialist.
Posted on: Sat, 02 Nov 2013 18:15:56 +0000
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