By TONY BELLISSIMO
Rodriguez, who won 37 matches this season to raise his all-time varsity record to 93-24, reached the semifinals but then dropped his final three bouts. But his 8-4 decision over Matt Hart of Peru High School on Friday evening guaranteed him a spot on the All-State podium.
"There are 13 kids in each weight class and the top six are considered All-State," said Marines coach Ray Adams. "Jose was an All-County quarterback in football and set his goals for wrestling to be a county champ and All-State. He knew what he wanted and he worked toward it. I'm proud of him."
In one swift move, Rodriguez snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in his opener at the state championships. He trailed Hart 4-3 with 15 seconds remaining, but used a hip-toss to take him down and score a decisive five points. It was the next-best thing to a pin.
"He had nothing to lose at that point," Adams said. "It was getting late and he needed to make something happen. And he did."
Rodriguez, who needed overtime to defeat Bobby Etri of Bellmore-JFK, 5-3, for the Nassau 140-pound title on Feb. 23, used last year's disappointment as motivation. A year ago, Rodriguez reached the 130-pound county final but lost to Ryan Higgins of Bethpage.
"Jose didn't want to lose in the county final again and he busted his butt during the off-season," Adams said. "He went to clinics, wrestled freestyle and did whatever else he had to do to get ready."
Rodriguez saw his chance for a state crown come to an end in Saturday's semis against John Cummings of Bay Shore. Up 2-1 in the second period, Cummings pinned Rodriguez after an impressive move. In wrestlebacks, Rodriguez lost 5-4 in double overtime to Martino Barletta of Fowler and was pinned by J.P. Zengerce of Gates-Chili.
"It's a draining day, both physically and emotionally," Adams said. "Jose had a great run and I think this experience will help him greatly next year."
Long Beach's other county champion, senior 135-pounder Stephen Jones, came up short in his bid for All-State status. Jones finished the campaign 34-5 and his five-year career 139-38 after losses to Trevor Nauta of Pine Bush and Jody Ashline of Ausable Valley.
"Stephen's a very determined and hard-working kid and another one who put in the time during the off-season," Adams said. "His goal was to win counties and he did. He was ready for states, but he got a tough draw and he didn't wrestle his best."
To capture the Nassau 135-pound championship, Jones won an 8-7 decision over the same Ryan Higgins that beat Rodriguez last season. Jones was All-County as a junior as well, placing fourth at 125.
"It was a great bounce-back season for us," said Adams, who guided the Marines to a second-place finish behind MacArthur.
