Rodriguez aims for big finish
Surveying the Buffalo Grove record board for girls swimming, one would surmise that senior Erin Rodriguez has done her job and more.
Rodriguez monopolizes the board by holding records in six events.
But the senior has bit of unfinished business heading into this weekend's IHSA state meet at Evanston High School.
Rodriguez has won four Mid-Suburban League titles and she picked up her first sectional title last weekend at Stevenson.
But despite all the hardware and records, she has never won a state medal and she hopes to change that starting at 3:30 p.m in today's preliminaries.
"I have unfinished business at state," said Rodriguez, who was a state qualifier in the 200-yard individual medley and 500 free her freshman and sophomore years before taking a season off to swim club for the Arlington Gators.
"I was expected to do a lot better freshman and sophomore year and I want to prove I am a better swimmer than that."
That shouldn't be too hard. Rodriguez has been proving it since she entered BG, winning the 200 IM at conference her freshman year and following it up by taking first in the MSL in the 200 IM and 500 free her sophomore year.
Rodriguez set the school and conference record that still stands as a sophomore in the 500 free (5:07.32).
This year Rodriguez set school records in the 200 free (1:56.44), 200 IM (2:08.29), 100 fly (58.63), 100 free (54.78) and 100 back (1:00.53). She added a MSL title in the 100 fly.
On Saturday at the Stevenson sectional Rodriguez qualified in the 200 IM (2:09.95) and the 100 fly (58.63).
Now that's impressive stuff.
"By far the strongest swimmer to come through this program since the school opened in 1973," said BG coach Tom Mroz of his senior star. "She has that fire in her belly that she will not give up - that's huge."
Rodriguez started swimming competitively at age 8 for the Woodstock Dolphins and she didn't let up once she entered BG. But her first state meet proved to be a bit unnerving.
"That was the most nervous I've ever been," said Rodriguez. "I was shaking on the blocks before the 200 IM."
"The state meet got to her," added Mroz, "She was young and made some mistakes, but I think she learned a lot from that."
After returning to state her sophomore year, Rodriguez spent her junior season swimming club as she worked on some personal goals.
"I missed the whole team atmosphere and being really close with the girls," said Rodriguez of her return. "Plus you represent your school and get to wear the blue and orange."
Rodriguez cruised through the regular season this fall before facing her first real test. Rodriguez and Barrington's Emily Fogle hooked up in a classic battle at the MSL meet in the 200 IM.
Rodriguez led after two legs, but Fogle took the lead during the breaststroke and went on to win in a conference-record 2:07.72. Rodriguez took second setting the school record (2:08.29).
It has been a good week for Rodriguez. The senior signed a swimming scholarship to Illinois on Tuesday and today she is looking to add the missing piece to her legacy at the state meet.
"It has been one exciting journey," said Mroz of Rodriguez's accomplishments. "She is leaving a huge legacy behind, what hard work will get you. She will be remembered here."
Rodriguez has come a long way since shivering on the block at her first state meet. As she stared at the BG record board she realized that the Bison have not had a state medalist in the swimming events since Jenny Takata took fifth in the 100 fly and 200 IM in 1987.
Interestingly enough, those are the same two events Rodriguez will be seeking to get her medals.
"I am older now and more experienced so I think I will handle it a lot better than I did before," said Rodriguez of the state pressure. "I just need to focus on what I need to do and what I know to do, swim fast."