Q&A with Buena pickleball and soccer player Marcus Rodriguez
SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. —聽A Q&A with Marcus Rodriguez, a multi-sport athlete at Buena High School.
Marcus Rodriguez, Age 16
Junior, Buena High School
Sports: Pickleball, Soccer
Teams: Buena High School pickleball Club, Coronado Athletic Club
What are your Personal goals within your sport/ athletic dreams?
Marcus Rodriguez: To be able to spread pickleball within our youth, and to beat my teacher and to go to college with a scholarship for soccer as well.
What is your biggest challenge in your sport, and what do you do to manage this challenge?
Rodriguez: My biggest challenge would be getting ansty or too amped up when playing. Usually I will try and take deep breaths while focusing on what I want to do when I’m on the court.
What was the best advice you were given?
Rodriguez: If you want to be great at something you have to fall in love with it.
What do you love about your sport?
Rodriguez: I love how stress free it is on your body and how easy it is to learn.
Do you have a pregame ritual you follow?
Rodriguez: I like to always get a good stretch in and try to do some tricks with my paddle before i get into a game.
What do you like to do outside of your sport?
Rodriguez: I like to lay more sports such as soccer and help out and be a part of clubs such as Buena High School Interact Club ad the Buena High School Auto Club.
What has being a member of a team taught you?
Rodriguez: Being a member of a team has taught me that everyone responds to a message differently so you have to be clear and positive with your communication when talking to teammates. You must be concise and motivational.
What is the best advice you received from a coach or mentor?
Rodriguez: The best piece of advice I have received id when my coach said “pickleball is not a sport with luck, everything is discipline.”.
Describe a mistake your made while competing and how you overcame it?
Rodriguez: A mistake I made is when I got ansty playing with my friend and almost cost us the game by smashing the ball but hitting it into the net. I then later would take a breath before each hit and slowly start increasing the speed and power.
Anything else you’d like to add:
Rodriguez: If anyone is interested in playing pickleball and goes to Buena High School the club meets every Thursday after school at 3:00 at the Oscar Yrun Community Center. See our sponsor Ms. Smith in room 1108 for more details.
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.