Navigating obstacles

When Rodrigo Diaz was a 6-year-old in Venezuela, basketball was his game. And just before his family left the country and immigrated to Canada, he enjoyed playing goalkeeper in street soccer games with friends.

Back then, Diaz said he never gave much thought to the fact he was born with a short limb and that he was trying to excel at games or positions where two normal arms are an advantage. It simply wasn't part of his thought process — and still isn't.

"Growing up, I didn't really think I needed (two arms) because I could do everything I needed to do with what I have,'' Diaz said. "And honestly, I didn't care very much about it or let it bother me. Other kids might notice or think I couldn't do something, but I never thought that way.''

That attitude has been on display all season as the 5-foot-6, 130-pound Diaz plays center midfield for the Tampa Prep boys soccer team. And when Diaz and the Terrapins play in Friday's Class 1A state championship game against Fort Myers Evangelical Christian at USF's soccer stadium, a lot more people will get to see the 18-year-old's indomitable spirit.

"He's always in a good mood, always ready for the task and always ready to do what needs to be done,'' said Nate Upshaw, the uncle who took Diaz into his South Tampa home last summer. "In some aspects I think he's advanced spiritually because of what he's been through and as a result, he just doesn't get drawn into a lot of the materialistic things that some kids do.''

Diaz says he still doesn't consider his short limb much of a handicap. He has a prosthetic arm but most days finds regular tasks like tying shoes or preparing a meal easier without it. He can even type about 30 words per minute on a computer using the stunted digits of his short limb along with his normal arm and hand.

In fact, Diaz has overcome not only a physical disability, but also the loss of his father to cancer. Living with Tampa relatives the past seven months while his mother and sister remain in Toronto, Diaz has come to represent a Terrapins team that finds ways to win no matter what the odds.

"We do sit-ups and push-ups at the end of practice and he (Diaz) does the push-ups with one arm,'' said Terps coach Doug Smith, whose school is seeking its fifth state crown in boys soccer since 2005. "I mean, think about the example that sets to his teammates. He just has this phenomenal attitude, a great work ethic and has tremendous skills. He's been a coach's dream."

With the hope of more opportunities, Diaz's family left Venezuela when he was 10 and moved to Canada. But less than a year later, Diaz's father, Luis, fell victim to an aggressive form of lymphatic cancer. That left Diaz's mother, Teresa, and little sister, Maria Victoria, alone in a new country with little in the way of a support system. As Teresa worked long hours to support the family, Diaz continued to attend school and play soccer but was often on his own.

At age 14, Diaz's skills in the game brought him to a summer soccer camp at USF. A big draw was the fact he could stay with his aunt, Maria Upshaw, his mother's sister and a Tampa dentist, and uncle, Nate, a Tampa psychiatrist. Diaz performed well at USF and the camp became a regular summer trip. This past summer, Diaz played so impressively he was named MVP for his age group and was invited to play against the Bulls' varsity men's squad in a scrimmage.

After that, the Upshaws and Diaz began to consider the idea of him moving in to their Tampa home — which includes the Upshaws' twin boys age 4, 2-year-old daughter and Diaz's grandmother, also named Teresa.

Once the decision was made for Diaz to join them, they had to decided where he would attend school and where he would play soccer, both for school and a club. Eventually, they enrolled him at Tampa Prep and he latched on an elite club squad with Tampa Bay United.

From a financial standpoint, the private school was a costly choice. But the Upshaws decided to take the money they were putting aside to renovate their home and spend it on Diaz's tuition at Tampa Prep.

Diaz's goal now is the same as it was when he came to Tampa: to earn a scholarship to a U.S. college and, maybe one day, represent Canada at the next level. He has an offer from Methodist University but says he would like to stay within the state and play — preferably USF.

"I'd love to stay here and play and since the game is at USF, I hope the coaches there will see me,'' Diaz said. "I just want the chance to play somewhere in college. I know I can play at that level.''