Alfredo “Freddie” Rodriguez attended Iowa Lakes from 2013-2015 and is being inducted into the Hall of Fame for wrestling.   

Freddie chose to come to Iowa Lakes based on the genuineness of Head Coach Cody Alesch.  At Iowa Lakes, Coach Alesch had a big impact on Freddie.  Coach Matt Mincey was also a big part of Freddie’s life as a Laker.   

Coach Alesch admired Freddie’s work ethic, “Freddie was the hardest working guy in the room I’ve ever coached…period!   You hear coaches, especially wrestling coaches all the time, telling their athletes to sell out in practice, empty the gas tank, push yourself to the limits.  Freddie did that in practice every day. He made it a habit, to where he didn’t know it to be another option.  You don’t see that very often, even at the collegiate level.  

Freddie was a great team leader in the room, always pushing his teammates and leading by example.  He also pushed himself in the classroom.  Motivated by wanting the opportunity to go D-1 and knowing what he needed to do academically to get that chance.  He really never wavered with that, as so many do unfortunately.  He was determined.  When Freddie is determined to do something or be somebody he wants to be, get out of the way, he is about to do it.    

A great example, not only did Freddie want to be a 2x National Champ, he wanted to be the NJCAA National Tournament MVP…..He did it!  His Sophomore year he was named National Tournament MVP!   Then goes on to do something he never knew even existed….he was named The Male NJCAA Athlete of the Year his sophomore year.  No wrestler in NJCAA history had ever received that honor.”   

Apparently Freddie had his work cut out for him as he started at Iowa Lakes.  Coach Alesch shared this story about Freddie’s start as a Laker, “Freddie was a 2x NJCAA Champ at 125 lbs.   What he weighed the first day he showed up at campus was FAR from 125 lbs.  Closer to 160 maybe.  He was a little butterball.  However, his first day on campus was about a week before school started, he rolled into town later in the evening that day.  Before we even unloaded the vehicle he arrived in, he was in the wrestling room working out.  I knew something special was in the making, even though he looked nothing like a 125 lb 2x National Champion that day!  Sometimes when a coach knows, they just know.” 

All that work paid off at the end of the season for Freddie as Coach Alesch described, “We went out to Spokane, Washington for nationals Freddie’s freshman year.     It is hard to describe the type of focus and confidence Freddie displayed on this trip.  After losing in the finals at the regional qualifier, he was locked in!  After that match he lost, he told me no worries, he will get better over the next couple weeks and winning a National Title WILL happen.  The preparation was incredible those two weeks, you could see the focus and preparation that was taking place.  However, from the time we landed in Spokane, WA, I’ve never seen or felt an energy like Freddie displayed.  The way he walked, talked and presented himself, I knew he was winning a National Title that weekend.  I’ve never felt anything like that before, or since.   Kyle Norris, our athletic trainer and Matt Mincey (assistant coach with me for both of Freddie’s titles) still mention that weekend from time to time and the presence Freddie displayed, not only did he win the National Title, he totally dominated the 125 lb weight class. The T-shirt that Freddie wore through The Weekend at Nationals  said this “Show up! Dominate!”   He did just that!” 

Pre-season runs with Coach Alesch and Coach Mincey were one of Freddie’s fondest memories as well as boxing in the green space or wrestling room with teammates and placing 5th at National Duals in January of 2015. 

There were many other people at Iowa Lakes who had a big impact on Freddie.  Kyle Norris, John Boenke, Troy Larson, Stephen Mincey, Adres Gonzales, Sarah Stokes, Katie King, and Molly Struve all helped to make his experience at Iowa Lakes successful.   

After Iowa Lakes, Freddie attended the University of Oklahoma for one semester before transferring to NCAA D1 Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, where he was a two-time 125 lb SoCon Champion in 2016 and 2017.  He was a two-time NCAA D1 National Tournament Qualifier and finished in the top 16 and top 12 nationally.   

Freddie is currently a Professional Mixed Martial Artist with a 4-1 Record with 3 1st round finishes.  He is signed to Fury Fighting Championships which is streamable on UFC Fight Pass.  He coaches youth and high school wrestling and has a son, Micah, who is 18 months old.   

Freddie would like to thank anyone who helped him on his journey and whom he calls family.  He loves and thanks you.   

You can show your support by following Freddie on Instagram @thecomebackkid. 

Congratulations, Freddie Rodriguez on being inducted into the Iowa Lakes Hall of Fame.