University of Washington athletics recruit Victor Sanchez Hernandez abandoned taekwondo to pursue football instead
Lynnwood - For over four decades, Joe Whitworth has been a beacon in the world of taekwondo, coaching some of the sport's most promising prospects including Victor Sanchez Hernandez, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound martial artist, who has recently chosen to pursue a career in football.
Whitworth has often had to navigate challenging conversations with his students, including telling them that they have reached their talent ceiling and must consider alternative pursuits. Yet, Sanchez Hernandez's departure from the sport was one of the toughest discussions Whitworth has ever had.
Sanchez Hernandez, a high school student from Kamiak High in Mukilteo, announced his commitment to Washington on June 23, 2024. After years of considering his path between football and taekwondo, Sanchez Hernandez opted for the gridiron and the Huskies, a decision that goes against conventional wisdom.
Whitworth pointed out that most high-level football prospects have spent years participating in the sport by the time they reach high school. In comparison, Sanchez Hernandez had never strapped on a football helmet until weeks into his freshman year of high school. Despite this late start, he burst onto the recruiting scene seemingly out of nowhere.
Sanchez Hernandez's career as a competitive taekwondo fighter mirrors his journey as a football recruit. Whitworth described Sanchez Hernandez as a "flash in the pan," erupting onto the competitive sparring scene after making his debut at 15. His junior amateur career spanned fewer than two years despite earning a series of impressive accolades, including the 2022 and 2023 Junior Pan American Championships gold medalist, participating in the 2022 Junior World Championships, 2023 Junior U.S. Open gold medalist, and the 2023 USA Taekwondo (USATKD) junior national champion, among others.
The Kamiak High School student, Sanchez Hernandez, trained with former French taekwondo fighter Pascal Gentil, who won bronze medals during the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 2004 Athens Olympics, and Jonathan Healy, a Team USA fighter currently ranked No. 3 in the world. Sanchez Hernandez's time atop the taekwondo world was the culmination of a collaboration with Whitworth that began seven years earlier when he joined Whitworth's Northwest Black Belt Academy at age 9.
Their partnership began with a misunderstanding. Inspired by anime Dragon Ball and Power Rangers, Sanchez Hernandez had previously done a few years of kung fu, leading Whitworth to inquire about his level of achievement. Unfortunately, a communication gap between his parents, who did not speak much English at the time, led to Sanchez Hernandez being placed in one of Whitworth's most advanced classes, years older than him.
Sanchez Hernandez's size did not compensate for his lack of skill during his initial years with Whitworth. He struggled in classes against peers who were significantly older and more experienced. Despite these challenges, he persevered, eventually showing signs of a strong taekwondo fighter due to his agility, quickness, and traits instilled by training with older fighters and Whitworth's approach.
Sanchez Hernandez made his competitive debut at the highest level of junior taekwondo at age 14. He was subsequently invited to train full-time at the United States Performance Center in North Carolina, but football was already drawing him away. Whitworth initially recommended the sport, believing it might offer opportunities Sanchez Hernandez couldn't find in taekwondo.
Ivan McLennan, the former Washington State linebacker preparing for his first campaign as the Knights' coach, noted that the physical attributes and discipline required for excellence in taekwondo were immediately apparent in Sanchez Hernandez, who transferred to Kamiak before his junior season. These qualities helped Sanchez Hernandez earn 2023 first-team All-Wesco honors during his junior year at Kamiak, incurring attention from colleges like Washington State and eventually committing to the Huskies.
Sanchez Hernandez's long list of taekwondo accolades serves as evidence of his time at the sport's highest level. However, he made the difficult decision to fully commit to football, leaving behind a sport that served as an integral part of his life for years. Whitworth played an essential role in guiding Sanchez Hernandez through this transition, ultimately advising him to step away from taekwondo due to concerns about his health and future prospects.
Despite the emotional toll, Sanchez Hernandez recognizes the valuable lessons he learned from taekwondo, including discipline, mental toughness, and a strong work ethic. These qualities have contributed to his success in football and prepared him for the rigors of college athletics.
In summary, Victor Sanchez Hernandez's journey from taekwondo to college football highlights a tale of dedication, transition, and difficult choices. He has navigated these challenges with grace, relying on the experiences and skills developed through years of training in taekwondo to serve him well in football.
ayamashita@our website
- Victor Sanchez Hernandez, a former taekwondo prodigy and a high school student from Kamiak High in Mukilteo, decided to pursue American-football at the University of Washington, defying the usual trajectory.
- Sanchez Hernandez's football career mirrors his taekwondo journey, achieving remarkable success despite a late start and a lack of conventional training, much like his time in martial arts.
- While training at the Northwest Black Belt Academy under coach Joe Whitworth, Sanchez Hernandez earned numerous awards, including the 2022 and 2023 Junior Pan American Championships gold medalist, and eventually garnered attention from top NCAA-football programs such as Washington State and Washington’s Seattle-based team.
- Washington State's new football coach, Ivan McLennan, acknowledged the discipline and physical attributes Sanchez Hernandez honed during his taekwondo days, which he believes will be key to his success on the gridiron.
- Sanchez Hernandez's decision to fully commit to football and step back from taekwondo was a challenging one, but he credits coach Whitworth for guiding him through the transition, offering valuable insights to ensure he remains competitive in his new chosen sport.
