FLIPPING THE SCRIPT IN HOBBS
Sometimes, state champions come from the most unexpected places. In Hobbs, New Mexico—a city known for basketball glory—a different kind of champion is making waves. Diving. For the past four years, a Hobbs diver has stood atop the state podium. “We’re such a small team, but we’ve been getting state titles,” said junior Alfredo Hernandez. “Basketball and football have way bigger teams, but when people think of swim and dive, they think of the divers first.”
And for the last two years, that diver has been Alfredo Hernandez. He defended his state title this season, even topping his personal best score, by one point. What makes it more impressive? He’s only been diving for three years. “My cousin was a swimmer and wanted me to join so he wouldn’t be alone,” Alfredo said. “I didn’t really want to swim. He told me to try diving. I like flips, so I agreed.”
At the state meet, Alfredo doesn’t compete alone. Parents and fans make sure of that. “Whenever I do a dive, I can hear them underwater,” he said. “When I come up, it’s even louder. It gets me pumped for the next one.”
His favorite dives? Anything with a twist. “I like my back one and a half, one and a half, and my one and a half double twist. I feel like I have the most control with those.”
When he’s not flipping off the diving board, he’s flipping over a pole vault bar during track and field season. “Last year was actually my first year doing pole vault, and I joined the week before district and I ended up getting third in district. That was pretty cool.”
His ultimate goal is to become an Olympic diver. But for now, his focus is simple. “I like motivating people,” he said. “Helping them reach their goals pushes me to reach mine too.”
In a town known for basketball, Alfredo Hernandez is proving champions can come from anywhere—even from the end of a diving board.
