Rodriguez standing tall

RAYMONDVILLE - D.J. Rodriguez is standing tall in this small Willacy County town.
Last year Rodriguez was one of eight athletes from Raymondville headed to the UIL State Track and Field Championships.
Rodriguez made the five-hour trip to Austin for the first time in his high school career with nearly his entire team there beside him.
It was fun to say the least.
Fast forward one year and Rodriguez is still having fun.
Now a senior, a handful of Rodriguez's teammates from last season graduated.
Dustin Alejo was the baby of the group last year qualifying for the state meet as a sophomore. Now a junior, Alejo was hampered by injury all season and never ran this year.
So Rodriguez now bears the weight of representing the Raymondville Bearkats in Austin.
Rodriguez will compete in the shot put at state meet on Friday.
And while he'll admit that being one of eight Bearkats in Austin was fun. Being the only Bearkat doesn't make too much of a difference.
"Last year I was the only thrower going," Rodriguez said. "This year there just won't be anyone else up there running or jumping. I know I'm representing Raymondville. I'm carrying the banner for Raymondville."
Rodriguez qualified for state in the discus and shot put last year and came in fifth in both events.
This year he won gold in the shot put with a throw of 57-5¾ at the regional meet in Kingsville a couple of weeks ago. He finished third in the discus.
His mark in the shot put was a new personal best.
"He started late for us because he was doing powerlifting," Raymondville head coach Tony Neimeir said. "But he came in with a great attitude and wanted to get back to state. He put in a lot of hard work and we're expecting good things from him (at state). He's improved a lot and we're going up there to get a new PR (personal record). He's going to try to throw 60 (feet)."
With on year of competing in the state meet under his belt, Rodriguez feels confident he can bring home a medal.
Rodriguez's been one of the top throwers in the Valley the past couple of seasons.
When you take Rio Grande City's Stepehen Saenz out of the equation, Rodriguez might be the best.
Saenz is in a class of his own this season and is one of the best in the state.
But Rodriguez has held his own and looks forward to competing at state again.
"I know what to expect now," Rodriguez said. "When I went last year, I wasn't to familiar with the environment there. Now I know what's going to happen and it makes it a little easier because I'll know what to do. I hope t come back with a gold medal."