Felipe Rodriguez walked into athletic director Mike King’s office this morning with a huge smile on his face.
“Am I back?” Rodriguez, the star forward on Westhill High School’s boys soccer team, asked.
“You are all set,” King replied.
And with that, the player many consider the best in the state started looking ahead to his return this afternoon for the Vikings’ home game with Danbury.
Rodriguez, who scored what is believed to be an FCIAC record 44 goals a year ago, was ineligible for the team’s first three games for unspecified reasons. Westhill went 1-2 without him.
With midfielder Danny Ruiz suffering a separated shoulder Tuesday against Trumbull and the team still adjusting to a new coach and a turnover in personnel, Rodriguez’s return could not be timed any better.
All King said about the matter was “Felipe has met all of his requirements.”
Rodriguez said, “I’m just happy to be back.
I forgot to add, King has dismissed new coach Del Torto, a good coach and man who the administration never even gave a chance. King has singlehandedly destroyed a great soccer program.
Mr. Ruden: after reading articles about former westhill player Felipe Rodriquez and his treatment by athletic director King (who has continued his reign of terror on WHS boy’s soccer) I felt compelled to chime in. After he became eligible this past fall both he and Daniel Ruiz were thrown off the team with no explanation or due process. Felipe is now playing professionally in Uraguay with River Plate’s 2nd team. Former Westhill goal scorer Jorge Zubillaga is playing for uruguay’s top team Nacional, he is currently working his way up the pro ranks, Jorge is still 17 years old. It is too bad that the FCIAC was denied the opportunity to enjoy these talented young men more. Thank you for always being a friend of soccer, Dave Ruden has always be friendly, fare and impartial. Take care. Mark K. Lukas