Five questions with Covington Catholic wrestler, football player Willie Rodriguez

Covington Catholic's Willie Rodriguez is a blooming star in Park Hills, both on the wrestling mat and on the football field. He has been wrestling since he was in first grade, and has qualified for the Kentucky state championships three straight years in three different weight classes.

He has also been on the football field since the third grade. As a junior, he only played six games before breaking his elbow. Still, he caught 14 passes for 295 yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, he made 10 tackles, recorded two sacks and one fumble recovery. He currently has 15 Division I offers and is being recruited as a tight end.

Fresh off his fifth-place finish at 285 pounds at the 2023 KHSAA state wrestling championships, here's what Rodriguez had to say about how his wrestling and football careers are intertwined and his burgeoning football recruitment.

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How do your wrestling skills impact your play on the football field and vice versa?

"Your technique. You know, you have to be smart with your feet, smart with your technique. You have to use your head a lot and have the IQ. And (my double leg takedown) is almost like a football tackle, so that's a huge part of it also."

"I mean, they piggyback off each other, so it's been great to do both of them. I go straight out of football season right into wrestling season."

You jumped weight classes from 2022 to 2023. What was that process like? Did it change anything for you on the mat or the turf?

"Usually it does, but I wrestle the same I've always wrestled. I move around and wrestle like a 190."

"I gained a lot of weight over the offseason for football, so (I'm) heavyweight this year. Big jump. I had to gain some weight obviously at the time since I'm going to play college. I played at 205 (pounds) this season. So I was still pancaking kids. I couldn't imagine being 230 or 240 this year."

Your sister Sofia is committed to playing soccer at Western Carolina. Soccer and football are two very different sports. What's it like working out with her?

"She's my older sister so she's always on me. We're always pushing each other. That's why it's fun to work out together. We've been working out in the mornings at 5 a.m. since we were little. It's been great."

What have been your favorite moments in wrestling and football so far, and what are your goals for your senior year?

"Winning the region when I was a freshman for wrestling, that was a great moment. Every match competing out here is so much fun for me. It's a fun sport for me because obviously, I come out here after football season and I'm just competing more and I love competing. That's why I do it. I want to come back to wrestling for sure, and come earn my state championship here, too."

"My favorite (football) moments are with my teammates every day in practice and grinding throughout the summer and throughout the fall. I want to lead the team to a championship, so that's what I'm planning to do."

You have 15 Division I offers as a tight end. What has the recruiting process been like?

"It's been great for me. It's everything I've ever dreamed of, and it's just making me more motivated to keep pushing myself and keep chasing my dreams.

"I've been talking to a bunch of different schools. My career has really taken off right now. So it's really fun to go through the process. No favorites yet. We'll definitely keep all doors open. That decision will come later."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Willie Rodriguez: Recruiting, wrestling and football for CovCath star