For Orange Lutheran senior Rhianna Rodriguez, her introduction to basketball started at home, inspired by her older sister, Mya Rodriguez '22, who competed in both basketball and volleyball for OLu.
"The main reason why I started basketball is because my older sister played, and I kind of wanted to follow in her footsteps," says Rodriguez.
After playing in a recreational league, Rodriguez took the next step in her development by joining a club team in fourth grade, coached by her current OLu head coach, Lindsay Charity.
Now as a shooting guard and a captain for the Lancers, Rodriguez loves the community she has found.
"No matter how small your role is, everyone has a role on the team," says Rodriguez. "You really have to work together and communicate to succeed. And it's just so fun to play with a team of girls who really love each other."
As a co-captain, Rodriguez emphasizes off-the-court leadership by modeling what it means to walk in faith and compete as a Christ-centered athlete.
"Rhi leads our team by example every day with her work ethic, encouragement and commitment," says Charity. "As our lone senior player, she brings a level of maturity and helps anchor us spiritually through her humility and heart, both on and off the court. She's a huge part of our program's success, and we will miss her next year."
A two-year varsity athlete and four-year participant in the program, Rodriguez has loved her time at OLu and is proud of the consistent support her teammates show each other, win or lose.
"As a Lancer, when times get hard, or when we're down, we don't turn against each other," says Rodriguez. "We come together and figure out what we need to do better."
Rodriguez admits that basketball never came easy to her, and there were times where she questioned if she should continue to compete. But she feels her commitment to the sport has helped her grow not only in athletics, but in all areas of her life.
"I would sometimes wonder why I'm still playing the sport," says the 18-year old. "But I feel like with those challenges, it's helped me become a better person, and I realize that when I keep working towards something, I will achieve it."
Off the court, Rodriguez serves as a mentor for OLu's Ignite and Engage programs, where she helps welcome the school's newest Lancers to the OLu family.
"As a freshman, I was really nervous to start high school, and I know how intimidating that can be," says Rodriguez. "I wanted to be the person for freshmen now coming in to help them. If they have any questions, or need help finding their classes, if they're struggling with friends, or whatever it is, I wanted to be that person for them."
Knowing this is her final season of basketball before college, Rodriguez is enjoying every moment. And while her next steps are still to be determined, she is grateful for the lessons the game has taught her and trusts in God's plan for her life.
"Through the difficult times, I realized God has a plan for me," says Rodriguez. "Even though I've played (basketball) for my whole life, I've felt on my heart that this is my last year …I feel like he's used all the experiences I've faced to help me become a better person."
Rodriguez considers Mya, a senior volleyball player at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, her most significant role model, someone she admires both as an athlete and as a person.
"She's the hardest-working person I know," says Rodriguez of her sister. "She just puts her all into everything that she does, even outside of sports. She is so driven, and in everything that I do, I try to be like her."
