As one of the leaders of the Matilda Torres Toros cross country team, Benjamin Fernandez felt a little bit of responsibility to lift the team as high as they can get to.
“It felt amazing to know we can be a goal for them,” Fernandez said about he and Hunter Hannah lifting the team. “If they catch up to us and get near us, it will help the team get stronger. It will push us to get further.”
That push got Fernandez an unprecedented five Central Section championship team rings and two individual titles. He won four straight team titles in cross country and another in the spring in track.
“I can’t even imagine that. It feels like it was earned,” he said. “All of those days we put in the work after hours at middle school and training through high school, it was earned after all of those long years.”
On top of those accomplishments, Fernandez, along with three other cross country running mates, will be headed to college.
“It’s amazing. We set a standard for the underclassmen that shows through hard work and patience, they can end up like that in their senior year,” he said.
Fernandez will now head to St. George, Utah, to become a member of the Utah Tech University’s cross country and track team.
“They are a really good program,” Fernandez said. “The coach was willing to offer me a scholarship, and they seemed interested in me. The coach seemed willing to put in the work with me and watch me develop for four years. I feel nervous going to Utah because it’s out of state. I think I’ll be ready for it.”
Fernandez graduated from Torres with a 3.75 grade point average. He plans to major in engineering, either chemical or nuclear.
He also drew interest from Weber State, Utah State and UC Merced, but Fernandez wanted to get out of California, and the opportunity was there for him.
“I think they are a pretty good program,” he said. “It would be like starting at Torres. Begin at the bottom and build, hopefully, a legacy for future college athletes to follow.”
Fernandez and his fellow seniors came into Torres with high expectations. They were one of the best running teams in the state heading into Torres, and continued that trend, placing third in the state the past two years.
“Those expectations were the main cause and drive for us to achieve and exceed those expectations, and go beyond,” he said. “I think my career was an amazing, outstanding high school career. There were some downs, but very little downs. Overall, it was a really good four years.”
Fernandez officially signed his National Letter of Intent at a signing day at Torres for six student-athletes.
“It felt amazing to set it in stone,” he said. “I’m really glad I get to continue my running career in college and continue doing what I love.”
His parents were happy with the decision, but more importantly, that he made a decision.
“They were happy that I found somewhere and made up my mind. They were happy I’m going to college to do something I’m really good at,” he said.
Fernandez and his running mates leave Torres as some of the most decorated seniors in Madera Unified history.
“We finally realized the impact on Torres and the Madera community this year,” he said. “We felt like a role model because we were the top dogs in the school. We were showing that, one day, this could be them. They can also win these titles, and set these records.”
At the end of the school year, Fernandez was given the school’s Torres Award, which is given to a student that most represented Matilda Torres’ values.
“I was a little surprised. I didn’t end my track season the best. I was glad I got the award,” he said. “It’s an honor to have your name on the wall. It’s about all the hard work paid off.”
After six years, Fernandez, Hannah, Alfonso Del Toro and Azarel Barrios-Meza will go their separate ways after leading Torres to five Central Section titles.
“Who beats who is a little thing we have with the team. I think I have the lead, by not much,” Fernandez said. “I don’t want Hunter and Alfonso to beat me.”