Student: Beraly Rodas
Year in School: Sophomore
Plans After High School: Beraly would like to attend the University of Georgia and wants to pursue a degree and career in forensic anthropology.
GPS Focus: GROWTH & PRIDE
What Makes Beraly #BulldogSTRONG: At the end of 6th grade, Golden Valley High School Sophomore Beraly Rodas saw her older sister wrestling at a tournament, and was inspired to give the sport a try as she was interested in finding an activity that prevented her from being stuck in her house with nothing to do. Beraly joined the Kern County Wrestling Association wrestling for the Top Dog program, a youth club that operates and practices at GVHS. Quickly, Beraly fell in love with the sport as she continued to grow and develop into a solid wrestler. “What I loved about the sport was the atmosphere because it seemed like everyone in the wrestling room was bonded like a family,” recollects Beraly, “Everyone motivated each other to be better. I greatly improved because of my teammates and the hard work we put in together.” As an incoming freshman, Beraly was anxious to display her talents as part of the Lady Bulldog wrestling team, one of the top programs in Kern County and in the state of California respectively. However, Covid-19 drastically changed the landscape of wrestling during her freshman year, so matches and tournaments were limited and in some cases, some wrestlers didn’t even get a chance to wrestle. However, 2021-2022 saw wrestling come back to many high schools and through the difficulties of health and safety protocols, Beraly has established herself as one of the top wrestlers in the 106 pound division in the CIF Central Section. Beraly currently has a record of 11-6 has earned a medal at some of the most prestigious tournaments the Central Valley has to offer: Coyote Classic at East Bakersfield High School (1st) Queen of the Valley at Golden Valley High School (2nd) Last Girl Standing at Lemoore High School (2nd) Spartan Showcase at South High School (1st). Hard work and an exhaustive preseason workout program have contributed to Beraly’s success. “I did many intense workouts with and without weights,” comments Beraly, “Cardio has been a big part of my training to get ready. I stay motivated and continue to train hard because of the improvements, having fun with my teammates, and staying positive when tough times come.”
Beraly Rodas has been a force for the Lady Bulldogs at 106 pounds, posting an 11-6 record.
Beraly’s positive attitude is beyond the wrestling room and gymnasium and into the classrooms at Golden Valley High School. Many of her teachers have commented on her strong work ethic and her ability to overcome any type of academic obstacle that might present itself in the classroom and doing so with a positive, never quit mindset. Beraly has been enrolled primarily in GATE classes, earning above a 3.0 GPA along the way in some of the most rigorous classes that GVHS has to offer. Beraly has even taken to learning French and has been a positive influence on her peers while learning a new language. For Beraly, she wants to leave a positive legacy that other students at GVHS can follow. “I want to be remembered as a student that was determined, hard working, and overall, a good person,” humbly states Beraly, “I want to show people that they can have a good time in high school while participating in sports or a club.” For the tremendous GROWTH and PRIDE that she has experienced as a wrestler for the Lady Bulldogs and for her endless optimism in the classroom, Beraly Rodas is #BulldogSTRONG.
What #BulldogSTRONG Means to Beraly: "To me #BulldogSTRONG means being the best version of yourself and always being a kind and positive person.”
What Teachers and Staff Think of Beraly:
"Beraly is a great representation of what our team believes in: being a good person, student, and athlete in that order. Once she enters the wrestling room, she gets straight to work and pushes through the toughest days to come out better than when she walked in. When she set her mind on a goal, she consistently attacks it until she can proudly say she achieved it. There is nothing stopping her from being #BulldogSTRONG.” Juan Gamino, Head Girls Wrestling Coach, Golden Valley High School
“Beraly is conscientious, shows interest in learning a new language, and puts in the necessary effort to complete her work to the best of her abilities. I appreciate her enthusiasm for participation as well as the attention she gives while working on a partner activity. She is committed to learning, tracks her own progress, and follows up with new updates which makes her #BulldogStrong. Bon Courage Barely!” May Feghali, French Teacher, Golden Valley High School
“Beraly demonstrates her #BulldogSTRONG attitude every day in English. She strives to keep growing as a student and maintains a strong work-ethic. She also demonstrates pride in her work in English and her other classes. Beraly does a great job with balancing wrestling with her academic responsibilities. Overall, her growth, pride and service make her a great example of what it means to be #BulldogSTRONG.” Lana King and Michael Lynch, English Teachers, Golden Valley High School
“Beraly demonstrates both Growth and Pride in my World History class. She is a hard worker and always gives maximum effort in her classwork. Beraly also arrives to class ready to learn and models appropriate behavior to her peers. She displays a positive attitude in the classroom and is #BulldogSTRONG!” Ed Crosby, Head Girls Tennis Coach and World History Teacher, Golden Valley High School