Aaron Rodriguez '20 Recruiting Profile

Hello Coaches and Asst. Coaches,

     My name is Aaron Rodriguez. I am a leading pole vaulter in the Valle Vista League and surrounding area, going into the 2020 season, in Los Angeles County. My senior year will be my 4th year of pole vaulting. I am seeking a position of Pole Vaulter on a university Track & Field team for the 2021 season.

I have trained regularly and progressed to higher levels than most high school vaulters in the area.  As a 9th grader I pr'ed at 10'6". My sophomore year I pr'ed at 13'2". The start of my junior season began by easily clearing 13'6" and consistently clearing 14'6" to 14' 9" at the end of the season, all the way through CIF Prelims to Finals, Masters and State Championships.

I have been injury free, plan to continue this progress and get some big bars my senior year. I met my first goal of beating my uncle Victors pole vault record of 14'2" from his high school in 1976. I took those family bragging rights from him last year. My short term goal is to beat my high schools record of 16'2", set by Sam Boswell in 1999.

I understand that I'm starting the recruitment process late, so my 4th year goal is a 16'4", or a 5m vault, to hopefully get the attention of university T&F coaches,  primarily at universities with an Aerospace Engineering  Degree program.  

Even considering pole vault is a big portion of my life currently, I feel I have benefited by being raised in a two parent household.  Also, I've just earned the "Eagle" rank in Boy Scouts, which only 2% of all scouts earn nationwide. This is the honored, highest level of Boy Scouts, the best character building youth organization available.  As a high school freshman, along with school, scouts and track, I joined the Civil Air Patrol (Air Force Auxiliary Program). I learned that spreading myself too thin wasn't the best way forward, so I left the Civil Air Patrol after 1 year.

The decision by my parents Paul, Raquel to sign me up in Boy Scouts at the early age of 9, has led me on the greatest journey of my life. I have learned many valuable lessons in leadership and manhood from this program. It really turned me into a young man, helped teach me how to respect and lead others. These character building successes, including my track team leadership position have prepared me to move up and follow my dream of upper division collegiate pole vaulting.

I know a teams success is only built on every members maximum efforts. I also believe success has nothing to do with luck, but is the result of dedication, hard work and good coaching. Learning to be patient with others, when things don't work out as hoped for, is one of the biggest character traits I've learned over the years in sports, scouts, church youth leadership and family.

My parents have always expected, encouraged and prepared me for success in everything I try. They also made sure I did what was necessary to keep A's and occasional B's, in the classroom. Those classes include AP Math, AP English and my current AP Calculus. I've kept a weighted GPA of 3.5, give or take a .1, since my freshman year.

I will continue to work on and improve my technique under the successful eye of Kevin Magula, coach of the Higher Flyers PV Club in Orange Co. Ca., during this off season. By increasing my pole vault technique and heights, I look forward to hearing from interested university coaches.  Again my name is Aaron Rodriguez. Thank you.