Rodgers set to sprint at Morehead State
After three successful years playing sports at Heritage Middle School, Aaliyah Rodgers arrived on the Heritage High School campus with plenty of ability and expectations.
She’s spent the next four years living up to them.
One of the top all-around athletes to ever wear a Heritage uniform, Rodgers will be taking her considerable talents to the NCAA Division I level after signing to run track at Morehead State University on this past Wednesday.
“This day really means a lot to me,” she said, flashing a big smile. “It’s really special. It’s a big opportunity to continue my career in track and hopefully go further than. I’m just really excited to be able to get this experience and I’m so thankful for this opportunity.”
Rogers has been a mainstay and a standout in both track and volleyball for the Lady Generals the past four years.
Said she also had offers to play volleyball in college, but felt she was ready for a change.
“I decided to try track and we struck and hit something, so that’s why I’m here today,” she explained. “I really love (Morehead’s) campus when I went to visit there, along with the team itself. They really have a great dynamic and it’s so pretty up there. I love (MSU) Coach (Clay) Dixon.
He’s super nice and was very helpful throughout the whole process. I just think that’s where I should be for the next four years.”
A two-time GVCA All-state volleyball player, Rodgers was the Region 7-AAAA and Catoosa County Player of the Year as a senior, helping Heritage to the region title. She was a part of three Sweet 16 teams and one Final Four team, finishing her career with 750 kills, 212 aces, 427 digs, 108 blocks and 308 service receptions.
On the track, she has been one of
the Lady Generals’ top sprinters in both the 100 and 200 meters and is currently the school record holder in the 200. She runs in the leadoff spot on the 4x100 relay team and anchors the 4x400 team. She’s also competed in the 400 and the long jump during her time at Heritage.
Last spring, she was region runnerup in the 100 and 200. The 4x100 team finished fourth and the 4x400 team placed third as she qualified for state sectionals in four separate events. The 2024 region meet is coming up later this month.
“Aaliyah has been one of the pillars of our girls’ team since she stepped foot on campus,” Heritage track coach David Gibson said. “She’s a tremendous athlete, an All-state volleyball player and she probably could have been an All-region football player if she wanted to be. She’s very athletic and a very motivated individual.
“She’s also willing to try different things that we ask her to do. She’s just been one of the people that we have leaned on when we needed someone to go out and run a relay or a sprint or do a jump. She’s just been all about it and willing to give it everything she’s got.
“When I talked to Morehead State’s track coach, one of the last things I said to him in my email was that not only was he getting a phenomenal athlete, he was getting an amazing young lady who’s just going to add quality to his program as a human being and as an athlete.”
Rodgers said she would be running the same main four events in college that she currently runs at Heritage.
“I think I’ll be able to bring good leadership to their program,” she said. “There’s not a lot of sprinters on their team, so I’ll be able to help there and in the relays, along with team bonding and things.”
Kari Cooper, Rodgers’ volleyball coach the past four years, said she has high hopes for her former player.
“They’re definitely getting a complete athlete,” Cooper added. “She’s always been so athletic for us in anything that she’s doing. Her leadership skills have really developed and flourished, especially in her senior year. Not only is she going to be able to develop physically, but she’ll continue working on her leadership skills and she’ll be a good teammate. I’m really just looking forward to see how far she can go.”
Rodgers plans to study kinesiology and wants to one day become a sports medicine physician.