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(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Mateo Rodriguez is a senior linebacker for the Steers football team who began his high school career as an undersized offensive lineman. Through his physical and mental efforts, he earned his spot at his desired position and has been a staple of this successful Graham defense. He recently contributed 10 tackles, five of which were tackles for loss, in the team’s 38-0 win over Brock. -
(NEWCASTLE ISD | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Allison Melton is a freshman who wasn’t even planning on running cross country this year. But after making the decision to do so, she has only improved as the season progressed. She recently was a key part of Newcastle’s 11th place finish at the state cross country meet, where she finished 38th overall out of 146 total runners.
Seasons are changing and temperatures are dropping. Fall sports seasons are nearing their end while winter sports are getting set to go.
In the last week, the Newcastle Ladycats cross country team raced at the state meet where the team took 11th place overall. The Graham Steers football team put the state on notice with a blowout win over top-ranked Brock.
For their performances in their respective events and their work all season, Mateo Rodriguez of Graham football and Allison Melton of Newcastle cross country earned selections as Athletes of the Week.
Mateo Rodriguez, Steers football
Rodriguez began his high school career as a backup offensive lineman, but he had the desire to play linebacker. He just didn’t quite look the part yet.
But one day, head coach Clay McChristian — who at the time was assistant coach and defensive coordinator — gave a speech to the freshman team about effort and going for more than what’s on the field.
“You may not be getting the reps you want to get, but I said just make sure that you get mental reps. Make sure that you're standing by your coach. Make sure you listen to what he's saying,” McChristian said. “...The next day, Mateo was in my hip pocket, everywhere I went.”
Rodriguez carried a play sheet around with him and pestered McChristian and the other coaches with questions. It didn’t take long for the defensive staff to notice.
“After a couple days, I told coach (Chris) Brewster, ‘I don't know what that kid's going to play for us one day, but he will be a player for us,’” McChristian said.
In his junior year, Rodriguez had the build and tenacity to play linebacker, and he excelled in the role, particularly near the end of the season.
Now in his senior year, Rodriguez is playing a huge part in one of the state’s top defenses, and doing so at the position he dreamt of playing as a freshman.
During Graham’s recent domination over Brock, a 38-0 blowout, Rodriguez tied for the team lead in tackles with 10. Five of those were tackles for loss, as he was a wrecking ball in the backfield and everywhere he was needed.
“It doesn't matter where you try and attack (our defense), those guys make plays,” McChristian said. “When it's your night, and they try and attack you, prove that was a bad decision, and Mateo did that.”
Allison Melton, Ladycats cross country
Before the school year started, Melton had no intentions of running cross country. She was an incoming freshman who had played volleyball, basketball and run track and field in junior high, but never considered cross country.
During a summer workout, senior Mattie Dollar spoke to her dad and cross country coach Ryan Dollar about seeing if Melton might be interested. Mattie said Melton looked like a runner, so coach Dollar gave it a try.
“(Melton) looked at me like there was no chance. I said, ‘Give it a few days and then come back to me.’ So she came back the next day and said, ‘I'll run,’” coach Dollar said.
The freshman started the year near the back of the pack on most runs, but about halfway through the season, coach Dollar began to see the improvements. It led to her impressive finishes in the district and regional races, where Melton recorded some of her best times and placements of the season.
“I think she took a little over a minute off of her time from kind of where she started at the beginning of the year,” coach Dollar said. “It's just really impressive to see her just kind of grow as a runner throughout the year, and I think there’s still so much potential there.”
Melton’s phenomenal year culminated in being a key cog to Newcastle’s state cross country run. The Ladycats finished fourth as a team at the regional race to qualify for state, and then Melton came in 38th place out of 146 runners at the state meet.
“It was probably after district, before regionals, when she started practicing with the best that we have, and kind of realizing, ‘Hey, I can do this,’” coach Dollar said. “Then at that point on, I think it kind of just clicked a little bit, and she just took off.”
