Robin Hernandez (’16), the unsung hero of the girls’ wrestling team, is one of the best wrestlers in the state of Washington in her weight class according to her coach- and she’s only been wrestling since her sophomore year.  She has only lost a total of two matches so far this season and is shooting for some big dreams as the season progresses.

Nominated by Coach Smoots, Hernandez is looked highly upon by both her coaches and teammates.  Smoots described, “Robin is very quick and aggressive with her moves.  She learns moves really well.”  Hernandez competed in the state tournament last year in only her second year of wrestling.  She came up one match short of placing last year, which fueled much of her off season training that Smoots talked of highly.

When asked why she chose to wrestle her sophomore year, Hernandez explained, “It was kind of a spontaneous decision.  One of my friends wrestled and I had Smoots for P.E, so he kept bugging me to join the team.  Then, I went to practice one day with my friend, and I was like ‘Oh, this looks kind of fun.'”  So by the fate of watching a random practice, the Arlington program gained a future wrestling star.

Hernandez is overall very happy with her decision to join the wrestling team, as it has taught her many things that she could have never had the opportunity to experience.  She explained that wrestling teaches you “self discipline definitely due to having to maintain a good diet and having to cut weight.”  She added that wrestling also makes you value hard work, as “wrestling is a hard sport.”

Hernandez’s goal for her senior season is to place at state.  “I made it last year, but was one match short of placing.”  The girls’ wrestling unsung hero is one to watch as the season comes to a close because she is planning to make a big statement as her high school wrestling career nears an end.