For immediate release:
PORTLAND, Oregon (July 11, 2019) -- Receiving an Oregon Sports Awards honor proved to be the ultimate piece of validation for outgoing senior Jesus Rodriguez of Woodburn High.
Jesus Rodriguez Photo: Nick Elliott, NBC Sports Northwest
After finishing as the runner-up in the 5A Player of the Year vote as a junior, Rodriguez can now officially say he was the best all-classification player in the state during the 2018-2019 season.
The Oregon Sports Awards committee tabbed Rodriguez as the recipient of this year’s Prep Boys Soccer Player of the Year award over finalists Oscar Macias (Forest Grove) and Avery Whipple (Corvallis). Rodriguez was named the 4A Player of the Year in 2018 as well.
He accepted his award on NBC Sports Northwest’s “The Noe Show” with Brian Noe on Thursday. Sport Oregon and NBC Sports Northwest also recognized Prep Girls Soccer Player of the Year Katie Duong (Jesuit) on the air.
Click here to watch clips of Rodriguez’s interview and to view a behind-the-scenes look at his time in studio. Future single-sport prep award announcements can also be heard live on KJOR’s RIP City Radio 620.
“I can't think of anyone more deserving for the award,” Woodburn boys soccer head coach Leroy Sanchez said. “Jesus is not only an outstanding soccer player, but also has become a great human being. To see how far he has come, has been amazing.”
He helped the Bulldogs capture back-to-back state titles at the 5A classification in 2016 and 2017. Woodburn dropped down to 4A this fall and won its third straight state championship and finished with a 17-1 overall record behind Rodrguez.
A forward, Rodriguez finished the season with 20 goals and 18 assists. He posted 63 goals and 38 assists for his career.
Rodriguez will attend and play soccer at Chemeketa Community College this fall. He has five siblings and will be the first member of his family to attend college.
“Jesus was a student who never thought that college was possible,” Sanchez said. “He thought graduating was going to be a stretch for him, but [graduated] and was responsible in doing so. He has done everything in his power to make him and his family proud by finishing school, and since he is the oldest in his family, will be setting the standard for his younger siblings.”
Rodriguez received opportunities to play club soccer but chose to stay close to Woodburn. He served as the Bulldog football team’s placekicker in addition to playing soccer this fall. Rodriguez competed for Woodburn’s wrestling and track and field teams throughout high school.
He also agreed to be the Bulldogs’ varsity basketball team manager this year after trying out for the team and not making the roster.
Rodriguez volunteered this spring as a youth soccer coach and intends to continue coaching because “the youth is the future.” Rodriguez writes poetry in his spare time, too, and has participated in Poetry Out-Loud.
Follow along and stay in touch:
1888 SW Madison Street
Portland, OR 97205
Twitter: @ORSportsAwards
Website: www.oregonsportsawards.com
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Brady Johnson
Sport Oregon
P: 503-313-5129