Omar Hernandez (soccer) explained

Omar Hernandez
Fullname:Omar Hernandez Chavarria
Birth Date:4 May 2001
Birth Place:Dalton, Georgia
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Chattanooga Red Wolves
Clubnumber:13
Youthyears1:2015–2018
Youthclubs1:Chattanooga FC
Youthyears2:2016–2019
Youthclubs2:Dalton Catamounts
Youthyears3:2018–2019
Youthclubs3:Atlanta United
Collegeyears1:2019–2022
College1:Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Collegecaps1:70
Collegegoals1:13
Collegeyears2:2023
College2:Mercer Bears
Collegecaps2:18
Collegegoals2:3
Years1:2019
Clubs1:Dalton Red Wolves
Caps1:6
Goals1:1
Years2:2024–
Clubs2:Chattanooga Red Wolves
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Club-Update:January 22, 2024

Omar Hernandez Chavarria (born May 4, 2001) is an American soccer player who plays for Chattanooga Red Wolves in USL League One.

Hernandez was the 2019 recipient of Gatorade Player of the Year award for boys' soccer. The award is a nationally recognized honor given to the best high school athlete in the United States.

Career

Youth and college

Hernandez was listed as a three-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer,[1] and ultimately signed a National Letter of Intent with Wake Forest University in April 2018,[2] ahead of his senior year. Hernandez rejected offers to play for South Carolina, SMU, UCF, South Florida, East Tennessee State, and High Point.[3]

During his senior year of high school, Hernandez transferred from the Chattanooga FC Academy to the Atlanta United FC Academy. In high school soccer, Hernandez captained the team to a 23-0-0 record and to the Georgia State 6A Boys' Soccer Championship,[4] as well as the #1 high school ranking in the nation by USA Today.[5] [6] On June 11, 2019, he received the Gatorade Player of the Year for boys' soccer for being recognized as the best boy's high school soccer player in the United States.[7] [8]

On August 30, 2019, Hernandez made his collegiate debut for Wake Forest, playing 17 minutes in a 2 - 1 victory against UCF.[9] Hernandez made his first assist for Wake Forest on September 6, 2019, in a 3 - 1 win against Dartmouth, three days before his first start for Wake Forest, in a 4 - 0 win against Houston Baptist.[10]

Hernandez would finish his career at Wake Forest with 70 appearances and 13 goals. Ahead of the 2023 NCAA Division I men's soccer season, Hernandez was a graduate transfer to Mercer University. At Mercer, he made 18 appearances, scoring three goals.

Senior

During the 2019 USL League Two season, Hernandez played with the Dalton Red Wolves, the reserve team of Chattanooga Red Wolves. He appeared six matches, scoring one goal.[11]

Hernandez signed his first professional contract in January 2024, joining the Chattanooga Red Wolves of USL League One.[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Omar Hernandez. TopDrawerSoccer.com. en. 2019-09-15.
  2. Web site: Dalton's Hernandez commits to Wake Fores. Maluso. Tony. April 7, 2018. Dalton Daily Citizen. September 15, 2019.
  3. Web site: Omar Hernandez - Bio & Background.
  4. Web site: Dalton boys' soccer team wins fifth GHSA state title, finishes 23-0. May 18, 2019. timesfreepress.com. September 15, 2019.
  5. Web site: Super 25 Boys Spring-soccer Expert Rankings. May 24, 2019. USA Today. September 15, 2019.
  6. Web site: Champions again: Dalton High wins Class 6A soccer title. Hamilton. Matt. May 18, 2019. Dalton Daily Citizen.
  7. Web site: Dalton's Omar Hernandez is Gatorade National Player of the Year. MacCoon. Patrick. June 11, 2019. September 15, 2019.
  8. Web site: Omar Hernandez, an incoming soccer player at Wake Forest, wins national Gatorade Player of the Year Award. Dell. John. June 11, 2019. Winston-Salem Journal. September 15, 2019.
  9. Web site: No. 4 Deacs Open Season by Beating No. 15 UCF, 2-1. Wake Forest University Athletics. September 15, 2019.
  10. Web site: No. 1 Wake Forest Routs Houston Baptist, 4-0. September 9, 2019. Wake Forest University Athletics.
  11. Web site: Dalton Red Wolves - 2019 Regular Season - Individual Stats - Omar Hernandez . . September 15, 2019.
  12. Web site: Scarpelli . D. . Dalton Native Omar Hernández Signs First Pro Contract with Chattanooga Red Wolves SC . ChattanoogaRedWolves-SC.com . . 22 January 2024.