Her name is synonymous with NAIA women's wrestling, where she's achieved about as much as any one athlete can - and this year, Doane's Cristelle Rodriguez has continued to excel on even grander stages.

The standout wrestler will represent Team USA at multiple international competitions this summer, thanks to her victory in a series of matches at the Final X competition in New Jersey last month.
She had already qualified for a spot on the U23 national team by winning the U.S. Championship in April, and her win at Final X also earned her a spot on the senior national team at 55 kilograms - a team that features a couple of Olympic medalists and will be representing the country at the Women's Wrestling World Championships in September in Croatia.

"So much has happened it’s crazy to even think about it sometimes. I’m like, oh my goodness, I accomplished it," Rodriguez said in an interview on Ol' Red 99.5 at halftime of a Doane football game last fall. "I just have to give thanks to my coaches and Doane for supporting me through all this, and letting me train here over the summer was a gift. I’m grateful for all of that, and I’m so excited to represent our country and represent Doane overseas."

After stepping away from the sport for two years, the rising Tiger senior from California was encouraged by coaches and teammates to give wrestling another try - and since then, she's flourished. Rodriguez credited Tiger teammate Karina Vang - who is also a California native and now a Doane wrestling All-American - with convincing her to give college wrestling in general, and Doane specifically, a chance. Once she met with the coaches, including head coach Dana Vogt, she felt she had found people who believed in her.

"I was like OK, everyone believes in me, I don’t see it right now, but let’s see where it takes me," Rodriguez said. "I can’t even come to understanding how all of the practice, the hard work, the dedication, the eating right, not going to parties, not living the life that everyone else does...this is my life, and i dedicated my life to wrestling, and I gave it all I have, and I’m thankful to be able to come back with the win."

Rodriguez won the NAIA individual championship in each of the last two years, earning national wrestler of the year honors both times, and she's achieved All-American status all three years at Doane.
She's competing in multiple international events this year on top of the world championships in September as she pursues her ultimate goal: making the roster for an Olympic team.

"It feels amazing. I’d be good to stop right now because of everything I’ve achieved, but I’m craving more, and I know that God has a lot more out there for me, so I can see myself in the 2028 Olympics," she said.

The next step in the journey towards that potential destination comes this September, when Rodriguez represents Team USA at both the U23 level and on the senior freestyle team at the Senior World Wrestling Championships in Zagreb.