Carroll Diver Heading to Duke, Looks Toward 2020 Olympics

In February 2015, he competed at the Texas UIL 6A High School Championship in Austin, and came in rather unconfident, he said, just before having what he described as the "meet of my life." 

"I told myself, 'just do your best,' because I did not think that I was going to win," he explained. "I had the meet of my life and went on the win the competition, earning the state champion title. I was so incredibly thrilled. There's a video that our team videographer took and there's this moment where I am standing next to Coach Hryorchuk staring at the scoreboard, and when it showed my scores and dive total, showing that I was in first place after the competition was over, and the biggest smile is plastered on my face, and I'm surprised I didn't start crying, because I was just overwhelmed with emotion."

He decided to use footage from that competition to submit to NISCA All-American, and was named the 2014-2015 High School Diving National Champion of the season that year.

Aside from diving, Hernandez also values community service, logging more than 120 hours with organizations like National Charity League, Inc., Southlake Chapter; the City of Southlake Chamber of Commerce; and Rockenbaugh and Walnut Grove elementary schools.

"It's all about giving back," he said. "One thing that Southlake adopted long ago was Rachel's Challenge, and it was instilled in me as a young Dragon to start a chain reaction and be the change you wish to see in the world. The Southlake community has taught me how and why to be concerned about the wellbeing of others, and that's something I would love to teach the youth of today."

Hernandez is grateful for the opportunities the city and community has presented to him.

"I actually think that I saw something on Facebook recently showing that Southlake had been named one of the top 50 'charitable' cities," he said. "I think that's a fair statement. Everyone in Southlake is very much concerned with the welfare of the entire community, and that's something I want to take with me to my new community."

His next stop is Duke Unviersity, which he said he instantly knew would be his choice of colleges if they'd have him, after he saw the campus and bonded with the swimming and diving teams.

"That was something that was very important to me in the process, because you train with these athletes multiple hours a day, and they become your support system and your family," he said.

He looks to major in chemistry with a concentration in pharmacology. His career aspirations are to work in the drug industry in research and development. He was happy with the quality of Duke's academic program in those concentrations, and could truly see himself a Blue Devil.

"...a piece of advice I was taught during the recruiting process was that you have to think, 'If I was injured and could never dive again, would I be happy here?' I know that is case with Duke University," he said.

Hernandez attributed much of his success to his family and looks ahead for many more accomplishments to come.

"I would like to thank my incredible family, for sacrificing so much to let me do the sport that I love," he said. "The opportunities that they have granted me are priceless, and with them I have been able to travel all across the country making enough memories to last me a lifetime."