by Kelly Martinsen
Each June, Natural Awakenings of Long Island (NALI) focuses on men nationwide and those in our community. This June, we introduce our readers to coach Miguel Rodriguez, a founder of the Long Beach Gladiators, a youth wrestling program that is run more like a family than a wrestling club.
Recently, Rodriguez was featured on ESPN because of the tremendous role he plays in the life of Isaiah Bird, a 7-year-old wrestler with no legs. However, Rodriguez’ interest in Bird is not exclusive; he plays an avid roll in all of his wrestlers’ lives and is focused on these children developing into healthy, positive and productive adult citizens. “It goes beyond coaching,” says wrestling parent Kevin Martinsen, who is also the husband of NALI publisher Kelly Martinsen. “Rodriguez is a father figure to many of these young men. He is a teacher, a mentor, a best friend; but most importantly, he is an amazing role model.”
Rodriguez moved to America from Venezuela in 1997 and began attending Long Beach High School. It was there that coach Ray Adams found him playing handball and asked him if he wanted to wrestle. At the time, Rodriguez, who didn’t speak English, thought he was referring to wrestling for the World Wrestling Federation and quickly declined. “I said, ‘No thank you, that is not my thing,’” recalls Rodriguez, with a laugh. Soon, Leo Palacio, a Spanish-speaking wrestling coach, stepped in and explained to Rodriguez that he thought it would be good for him to try out for the high school wrestling team.
Who inspires you?
All of the Long Beach coaches—Ray Adams, Leo Palacio, John Anfossi, Bernard valentin and Paul Gillespie— who all not only shared their love of wrestling with me but also showed an interest in my becoming a man. Leo is a character; he is so funny. Adams is passionate, with a big heart. Valentin, he is a technician—very good, very technical. Anfossi is a businessman, no nonsense; he likes things done the way they should be done. And Gillespie will take anyone under his wing; he will take a kid from the street who doesn’t have a dad or a mom and he will become both to that kid. I like to think that I am a proud combination of all of them.
What made you decide to start the club team?
I started helping with the Long Beach recreational wrestling program. The recreational program was great, but we wanted the kids to be able to go to tournaments. Coach Anfossi and I wanted to take it to the next level. Long Beach City didn’t have funds to pay for all of this, so coach Anfossi said we should start our own club. Between the two of us, we started the team, and Leo Palacio came up with the name Gladiators.
Tell me how you use wrestling to teach life lessons?
Wrestling teaches young athletes that if you put your mind to something, you can get it done. If you want to accomplish something, you need to get it done. Yes, it is a team sport and a brotherhood, but when it comes down to it—when an athlete gets on the mat, it is up to that individual. Wrestling teaches you that. No one is going to give you anything. You have to go get it. You and only you can get it through hard work and dedication.
What is your hope for the Long Beach Gladiators?
My hope and goal is that for all young athletes in our program to continue with the sport and be part of this program, this family. The young wrestlers of Long Beach have the potential to bring the state title back to Long Beach. This is the team that can do it. It is also my hope that the wrestlers know that this is more than a team—it is a family. It is a safe place; and there exists within this family an open door to the mat, and more importantly, an avenue to stay out of trouble.
For parents that say, “Wrestling is not for me or my children because they are too small” or “too large” or “too weak” or “too poor” or too whatever—what do you say?
We always manage to get the support financially, so money is never an excuse. My mom cleaned houses when I came to the U.S.; she didn’t have the money to support the sport, and people helped me. We will always help anyone financially, so that should never be a reason not to wrestle. Getting hurt? Well, come on, you can get hurt walking out the front door. What people may not realize is that wrestling is nonviolent. We teach discipline, technique and self-control. I say to those parents and kids, they have nothing to lose by trying.
What makes your team different from other youth wrestling programs?
It is that we are a family on and off the mat.
As is witnessed in the ESPN feature Isaiah Bird: No Excuses (which can be viewed at espn.go.com/video/ clip?id=12893699), Rodriguez means this literally.
There is a strong legacy within the Long Beach wrestling program—a legacy of caring for children that goes well beyond the mat. Rodriguez is committed to helping his Gladiators become the men and women they are supposed to be, in the same manner that others helped him when he was a young man fresh from Venezuela.
To learn more about the sport of wrestling, the Long Beach Gladiators, or to make a donation, visit LongBeachGladiators.com.
