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Marisa Rodriguez (center) prepares to sign a letter of intent Nov. 22 to row at Kansas State. Joining Rodriguez were her mother, Itress Richey (left), VCHS coach Holly Rutter (right) and VCHS athletic director Caleb Smith (standing).

Rodriguez signs for uncharted waters at K-State
By Randy Fisher
Last Updated: December 01, 2016

It's always an exciting time when a student-athlete graduates from high school and moves on to college. Especially when they plan to play a sport.

For Marisa Rodriguez, that excitement will bring a new adventure as well. That adventure officially began Nov. 22 when she signed with Kansas State University. But she won't be playing volleyball, as she did at Valley Center High School. Instead, Rodriguez will embrace a new challenge as a member of the Wildcat rowing team.

"It took a long time searching, because I thought I was going to play volleyball," Rodriguez said. "When I went on my (volleyball) visits, they just didn't strike home enough. I went to Kansas State for a health profession visit and fell in love with the campus.

She had been contacted by rowing coaches from colleges in the eastern part of the country. Wanting to try something different closer to home, Rodriguez filled out a rowing team questionnaire on the K-State website and was contacted about a visit. That was all it took.

"They said they wanted me, and I fell in love with the team and the environment," Rodriguez said. "I just felt like I was finally at home."

Rodriguez has never rowed before, so the learning curve will be steep. But she's ready for it.

"Just the passion to want to do something different, but still work as hard as I do in volleyball, is what's going to motivate me to keep going," she said.

It's those characteristics that Kansas State saw in her as well.

"Rodriguez is a competitor. She is independent and self-motivated," said KSU assistant rowing coach and recruiting coordinator Hanna Wilfong in an email. "Her desire to attend K-State led her to us, and we are fortunate that her athleticism will be cultivated on our team. She is a dedicated student, and we expect she will contribute significantly both on the water and in the classroom.

"As a side note, she has great energy and her determination in all aspects of her life is reflective of the character we aim to instill in all our student-athletes." 

VCHS volleyball coach Holly Rutter believes also K-State will benefit.

"They're getting a good, good girl; a good, good athlete," Rutter said. "A great person and a great student-athlete as well. Someone who is very intelligent and who will make good decisions throughout college."

Rodriguez's mother, Itress Richey, is looking forward to the next step in her daughter's life.

"I think this will be a great opportunity (for her) to learn a different sport and really push herself to excel at something she's not tried before," Richey said. "To build that team spirit with her new team. I think she'll do great. I think it will be a good experience."

Rodriguez plans to study biochemistry with the goal of becoming an orthodontist. The odyssey can't come too soon.  

"I am super stoked," she said, "I honestly wish I was graduating tomorrow and headed off to Manhattan. I've found my new home."






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