A mixture of baseball and wrestling make Corey Hernandez a tough player.
Senior Corey Hernandez prepares to wrestle for the 2013 Season. Photo by Cassidy Green
Senior Corey Hernandez is quite the student athlete juggling baseball, wrestling and a strong academic load.
Corey began playing baseball when he was six years old, and made the diamond his second home. “I started playing baseball because of my dad. He was the one that made me want to start and keep playing,” said Corey, who explained that his dad was his coach up until he began high school baseball. “It was nice always having him there.”
Once Corey got to middle school, he was playing for two teams. He would play for his dad’s team during the summer and his school team in the spring. “I started playing for Hamilton in 7th grade and also played in 8th grade, and both years I played, we went to the championships and won,” commented Corey.
Corey decided to continue to play here at Thomas Jefferson High School. He claimed that playing in high school was different than playing for a league or in middle school because the players were a lot bigger and better. “The competition is also more intense, and there is more riding on the players and the game,” said Corey. “It is an experience where you can be put on different teams and not play as much, compared to before where there was only one team and you would play no matter what.”
When Corey was younger, he played second base, but as he grew older, he was put into the outfield due to his speed. Although he is playing a different position, Corey stated that he still enjoys playing infield and occasionally misses it.
Corey also found an interest in wrestling his freshman year. “My dad was the reason I decided to wrestle because he was a good wrestler in high school, and I wanted to try to see if I was as good as him,” explained Corey, who claimed that before high school, he didn’t even know wrestling was a sport.
Corey believes that wrestling is different than baseball or any other sport because it is a sport that will put your body and your mind to the test. “Because it is so hard and mentally draining, my coach always says that it is a fight with rules, and there isn’t any other sport that can say that.”
His coach, Mike Laurita, has been with Corey throughout his wrestling career and said he has come a long way. “Corey is a pretty good athlete. He works hard to get what he wants and I think that’s a lot of what he is about,” said Laurita.
Corey’s wrestling career hit a bump when he injured his elbow towards the end of the season his junior year, making him unable to go to state. “I had my right arm taped from my wrist to my shoulder, making it hard for me to wrestle because I had to adapt to my arm being restricted,” said Corey, who commented that he is still fighting the injury because his arm still hasn’t healed completely yet.
This year, for his last season as a Spartan wrestler, Corey hopes to win league, make it to state, and eventually place at state. “Placing at state is my main goal and the one I want the most, and the other achievements are all things that will help me get there,” said Corey.
Corey isn’t the only Hernandez to come through TJ. Corey’s older sister, Colette graduated from TJ in 2010 and Corey’s younger sister, Carmen, is currently a sophomore at TJ. “Freshman year it was nice having a sister who was a senior because I had someone there that could help me out with anything because she knew a lot of people and she knew where to go,” explained Corey. When Carmen came to TJ, Corey felt as though his role had switched.
Looking back, Corey realized high school would have been a lot different without his sisters for all four years. “They helped me and introduced me to people who became my friends, so without them, I wouldn’t know a lot of the people I know now.”
His younger sister is a true fan. “I try my best to go to all of Corey’s meets and baseball games to show my support for him,” said Carmen, who explained that she would even go to the wrestling matches where she would have to wake up at six in the morning to watch him wrestle.
Corey has been very involved in TJ athletics during his time here. “TJ athletics have been a big part of my life and its going to be tough moving on, but at least I’ll have a lot of memories to take with me,” he stated.
