Santa Fe’s Damian Hernandez, a Chieftain for life

Junior lineman Damien Hernandez, 16, with his dad, Hector, left, the offensive/defensive line coach, and Head Coach Dave Pierson, center, at Santa Fe High School. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)

SANTA FE SPRINGS – Damian Hernandez is a Chieftain for life.

Hernandez, a junior on the football team and an offensive and defensive lineman, has been on or around Santa Fe High School football fields since he was a baby.

He’s gone through a devastating leg injury before his sophomore season and now, of course, the pandemic has delayed the season.

“It’s funny, back in 2004 when he was born, I brought him out to practice and that’s when he met the legendary Jack Mahlstede,” said Damian’s father, Hector Hernandez, who has coached at the school for 16 years.

He started coaching with Mahlstede the year Damian was born and continues as an assistant under current coach Dave Pierson.

“He was a baby when he met Jack and even early in mommy’s (Barbara) tummy,” Hernandez said. “That’s how long he’s been here.”

Now that’s a Santa Fe baby.

“Jack just said one day, ‘your kid’s going to be our ball boy,’” Hector Hernandez added.

Damian did just that, even at the ripe ol’ age of five.

“He took the role of ball boy very seriously and took pride in being part of a team he long wished to be a part of,” Hector Hernandez said.

Mahlstede, who passed away in 2019, coached more than 40 years at the school and won 16 league titles.

Damian Hernandez (Class of 2022) even took some of his first steps on what is now known as Jack Mahlstede Field on the Santa Fe campus.

Damian gives tons of credit to his coaches.

“I grew up within the program and I treasure everyone that has passed by my life and remains in it,” Damian Hernandez said. “I would not be the player I am today without the coaches, trainers, friends and my family.

“To be a great player, you have to be coachable. I’ve learned so much from all my past and current coaches. I apply every bit of advice into my work ethic.”

Damien Hernandez, 16, hoped to come back strong and play football at Santa Fe High School this year after fracturing his femur last year, sidelining him for the whole season. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)

Santa Fe became a very tight-knit group for both Hernandez’s.

“The coaches became extended family and the players became big brothers,” Hector Hernandez said. “Damian felt honored to be a part of the Mahlstede dynasty. The Mahlstede’s, along with the rest of the coaching staff, embraced Damian as one of their own.”

Mahlstede would often encourage Damian.

Hector Hernandez would hear Mahlstede say, ‘Give it your all kid. You will do great things one day’… and walk off by saying ‘who’s the greatest?!’, as he smiled at Damian.

“Coach Mahlstede was very supportive of Damian,” Hector Hernandez said. “Malhstede became more than just a coach to Damian. He became an uncle, a mentor, and a friend. Coach Mahlstede’s devotion for the team, his witty ways, and energetic character influenced Damian to want to be a Chieftain.”

After hearing of Jack’s illness, Damian visited Jack and his beloved wife Billie and Mahlstede told the young man, ‘you know the culture and tradition behind Santa Fe football. You know what it takes to be a part of the program. Make me proud kid, I’ll be rooting for you.’

“Those were Jack’s last words to Damian before he passed away,” Hector Hernandez said.

Because of coach Mahlstede’s encouragement through the years, Damian plays with such intensity of leaving everything on the field and attempting to make (him) and everyone around him proud.

Pop Warner football is where Damian got his start on the field with the Santa Fe Springs 49ers. In addition, he played for the Los Alamitos Griffins.

“During that time Damian would show up to Santa Fe (High School’s) practices and participate on certain drills with the team,” Hector Hernandez added.

In 2012, after Mahlstede retired, Pierson became the coach and knows how much energy Damian Hernandez has put in to football.

“He’s a kid that’s invested a lot of time, only to see it slip away,” said Pierson, who coached for Mahlstede in 1995 through ’97.

“He’s a hard-working kid who holds himself very well and he’s pretty much grown up a Chief.”

There was an immediate admiration from Damian to Coach Pierson.

“Damian admired how intelligent and driven Coach Pierson was and continues to be,” Hector Hernandez said.

Pierson became a friend, mentor and a person of trust for Damian.

Two Chiefs assistant coaches worked wonders for Damian.

Coach Dave Krumins, who is a longtime family friend, taught Damian to never give up and worked with his ethics on the D-line.

In addition, coach Tony Chavarria, who has been known as the heart of Santa Fe football and has a heart of gold, had a lot do with shaping Damian into the young man he is now.

Damian’s freshman season was filled with success, as he was named captain, Lineman of the Year and was promoted to varsity for the last three games, in which he started.

Damien Hernandez, 16, with his dad, Hector, who is also the offensive/defensive line coach at Santa Fe High School. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)

His sophomore year was expected to be his breakout year, as he was chosen to start on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. It was not to be, as he suffered a devastating leg injury - a left femur fracture running through his growth plate which required emergency surgery.

“Tragically, in fall camp, (2019) he injured his knee and was out for the season and now this with COVID-19,” Pierson said. “It’s just been even more difficult with them as a family and for us as a coaching staff and for us as a program.

“We want to see our kids have the opportunity to be successful, play sports and he has been limited because of the injury. We were looking forward to this year, obviously.

Beginning with his injury, Damian Hernandez, has seen his previous two seasons go by the wayside.

“My season came to an end my sophomore year due to an injury and now it is in jeopardy due to Covid-19,” Damian said.

He felt everything was being stripped from him.

“The pain was no longer in his femur but in his heart,” Hector Hernandez remembers. “His face showed devastation, disappointment, and disbelief. It was definitely an emotional roller coaster for Damian.”

Damian began physical therapy, in which he was told he would be unable to walk for a period of three months. Damian refused to live by that and set a goal. He wanted to be able to walk without any assistance.

He was cleared a couple months later and began to rehabilitate and train once again with his personal trainer, former NFL player Justin Cheadle.

Damian worked around the clock to build his strength and stamina. He went from being a 5’-8”, 225 lb sophomore to a 6 foot, 265 lb Junior.

“It has been a year of mixed emotions,” Damian Hernandez said. “The past eight months have been hard.

The last day I was able to train with my team as a whole was March 13, 2020.”

As for interested colleges after high school, Hector Hernandez said, “…A lot of small D III’s and Azusa Pacific reached out and La Verne and a couple of schools back east.  At the end of the day, he wants to go DI, but whatever is going to pay for school.”

Both Damian’s parents, Hector and Barbara, who is also the Santa Fe football booster club Vice President, are very proud of their son and just hope for the best in 2021 and ’22.

Damian Hernandez is a God-loving, faithful young man, who pursues his dreams and goals to someday play at the next level.

Damian remains hopeful for a season, which was to be his comeback season.

What they said:

Damian Hernandez (on a possible upcoming season): “Chances are increasing because CIF hasn’t given that decision to the state and county and the opportunity to clear us.

“I want to bounce back this year and get my name out there and hopefully colleges start looking at me and just be dominant this year.

“I want colleges to look at me at the center position because I’m not the tallest, but I will be the smartest on the field and the meanest. This year I’ve been in the backyard weight room everyday working on my technique. I’ve been going to camps and they have really been helping me.

“It is hard to believe that our season is in jeopardy. Many of us who have dreams of playing at the collegiate level need this season for film. It is hard to understand how it is ok to protest in the streets and we can’t practice as a team. We are following all CDC guidelines. We sanitize, keep our social distance, and unfortunately I cannot play a game that I played all my life. I have been preparing myself a lifetime to be able to reach my goals but Covid-19 and those who don’t practice CDC guidelines are making it hard for kids like me to play.”

Hector Hernandez: “Unfortunately, with this virus, it’s not a good time. Fortunately for him (Damian), it’s supposed to be his comeback year. He did the necessary things in the offseason to get better. Now the opportunity is basically slim right now. In football you need film and CIF is up in the air. All these schools are asking, but no film. That hurts more.”

Dave Pierson, Santa Fe coach: “It was extremely devastating for us as a team (to lose Damian in his sophomore year). We were really looking forward to him. He’s been playing football his whole life. He’s pretty much grown up around Santa Fe and played Jr. All-American here locally. He was Santa Fe’s ball boy under Jack (Mahlstede) when he was still the head coach. He’s culturally been situated to be a Santa Fe Chieftain.

“For Damian, he has been one of those kids that have worked extremely hard. Not only in his rehab, but he was seeking out professional advice, when it came to rehabbing the leg. But, on top of that he was also working diligently to improve as a football player. As he started to clear the knee injury protocol, he was able to transition into football drills. In doing so, he continued to work hard this offseason to prepare for it. He was doing mini camps and camps with lineman and all those different types of things that are out there for kids now days where they can go for specialized training. Then the setback with COVID happened. So, for Damian, it’s been a double whammy. That’s what’s compelling for me, because here is a kid that has been out of the game for a number of years now and he’s still chomping at the bit to play. That’s exciting for us as a team as coaches and we love kids like that.”