Izzy Rodriguez Named Senior CLASS Award Candidate
10/1/2021 11:58:54 AM | Women's Soccer
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State’s senior defender Izzy Rodriguez has been named a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award, which is presented annually to the student-athlete who displays a strong work ethic in the classroom and on the pitch.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior or graduate-student and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character, and competition.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
Rodriguez has been the anchor on the Buckeyes’ back line, playing in 79 matches over the last four-plus seasons. She has seven goals and 11 assists to her credit and has been a part of 28 shutouts in her career.
On and off the pitch, she has been one of the team’s captains, wearing the captain’s armband each of the last two seasons. The 2021 Big Ten Defender of the Year was named to the MAC Hermann Award Watch List at the start of this season and is a three-time All-Big Ten honoree. She has a pair of goals this year to go along with one assist.
Off the pitch, Rodriguez has been great in the classroom and active in the community. She is a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar which is awarded each year to student-athletes with a 3.7 GPA or higher. She was also a United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American Scholar last year.
In the community, Rodriguez has participated in the Buckeye’s Go International program, Fisher Impact Day, Brutus Buddies Trick or Treat, the 2nd & 7 Foundation Literacy Outreach Program, BuckeyeThon and made blankets for children in the hospital during Childhood Cancer Awareness.
Ten finalists will be announced later this season and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character, and competition.
The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2021 NCAA Women’s College Cup® championships in December.
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