GoYeo Storytellers: Joshua Rhodes ’21

Oberlin College senior Joshua Rhodes is not only one of the newest members of the Oberlin College swimming and diving team, but also one of the most unlikely. Oberlin College senior Joshua Rhodes is not only one of the newest members of the Oberlin College swimming and diving team, but also one of the most unlikely. 

Rhodes wasn’t even a student at Oberlin a mere four years ago and competitive sports were even farther from the mind of this fifth-year Conservatory student. While Rhodes’ passion for sports and music goes back to his childhood, he was steered away from sports to focus on his music while attending University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG) as a classical double bass performance major, before transferring to the Oberlin Conservatory. 

The professors at UNCG pushed Rhodes to essentially give up on everything that wasn’t music, encouraging six hours a day of practice on his bass. One could argue that the strategy worked as he became the principal player of the bass section, a responsibility not often afforded to a first-year student.

However, the ‘all in’ approach is what ultimately led to Rhodes aspiring for something more. 

“Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed my time there, but it was a tough adjustment socially and mentally when you are encouraged to focus solely on one aspect of your life, it drained on me. Especially after making lead so soon on the bass, it was almost as if I am asking myself where do I go from here?” 

After spending the summer playing at various music festivals, he knew there was more for him outside of North Carolina and that it was time to make the plunge into Oberlin.

While Rhodes was adjusting from everything to the weather, a new state, and new way of solfège, he was enthralled by all that Oberlin had to offer outside of music. 

Originally promising himself he would not join an athletics team when he first came on campus to focus on his music, Rhodes would eventually break that pact with himself this fall. Spotted getting some laps in for exercise by Assistant Swimming and Diving Coach Jess Padilla, Rhodes, who had some limited swimming experience in high school, was encouraged to join the Yeomen.

“Josh brought a strong level of leadership immediately to the team,” Head Swimming and Diving Coach Alex de la Peña said. “He is always the first on deck and the last to leave. Josh is a true student of the sport and is always looking for different ways to make improvements. He sets a great example for our underclassmen in the way he carries himself day in and day out. I am impressed with the way he is able to balance all of his commitments with the conservatory and still participate in varsity athletics. It is not an easy task and takes a lot of drive, focus, determination and grit.”

With multiple hours of practice per day on the bass and in the pool, it's obvious that his drive to excel in life is relentless, which he credits to his mother for instilling in him at a young age. 

“She inspires me everyday. She is retired from the military but her work ethic still puts me to shame,” Rhodes said with a smile. “She taught me not only to be the best version of myself but to also strive to support and encourage others around me who may be less fortunate.”

A perfectionist in all aspects of life, Rhodes recently found a correlation between diving off the blocks and bass playing. 

“I was working on the blocks trying to imply the concepts that the best dives are out, not up. The idea immediately struck a chord with me that I could apply that to my bowing skills on the bass and it has really helped me play faster and cleaner.” 

Rhodes has come a long way since throwing up at the second practice after joining the team but has only improved from that point.

While his days in the water may be limited with just the second term to go, Rhodes found his true self at Oberlin and hopes to continue sharing himself with the world through music in the future.