"Unseen Excellence: What Coach Albert Hernandez Taught Me at State"
Richie Ramirez • April 18, 2025
“Why Coach Hernandez Deserves Recognition”
This year I had the opportunity to attend my first State Powerlifting Championship, and to be honest—it was chaos. The venue was packed with schools, athletes, fans, and tension. It was exciting, but it was also clear that the organizational side of things was far behind the level of competition being showcased.
Our two female athletes from the gym represented Goddard High School—just 2 of 3 athletes competing for their school. Thankfully, both of them made the podium (which I wrote about in a blog a couple week’s back), but this post isn’t about them. This is about someone else who showed me what real coaching leadership looks like in the middle of all that chaos.
It’s about Coach Albert Hernandez.
Coach Hernandez has been the powerlifting coach at Roswell High for three years. As far as I know, he isn’t a full-time teacher. He works a job outside the school district and still commits himself to coaching student-athletes. And after what I witnessed at that state competition, I believe every coach in the area—from youth to high school—should be learning from his example.
What I Saw
Coach Hernandez brought nine athletes to the state meet. Seven of them got on the podium. One of them, Matthew Castillo, completed his 4th consecutive year as a state champion in his weight class. That level of consistency and leadership is the kind of thing coaches dream of achieving—but that’s not what impressed me the most.
What I noticed, and what most people probably didn’t, were the quiet, selfless moments that revealed true coaching character.
During the chaos of Yaretzi’s back squat attempt (one of our gym athletes competing for Goddard), her lift was being contested by judges. I watched as her coaches looked confused, frustrated, and unsure of what was happening. Then, out of nowhere, Coach Hernandez—a coach for a rival school—stepped in to help.
His own athlete was on the opposite side of the arena, and yet he had taken the time to observe, understand the situation, and offer guidance to a lifter that wasn’t even on his team. He calmly explained what was happening and what needed to be done.
That moment stuck with me. But it didn’t stop there.
Later, during Yaretzi’s bench press attempts, there was another miscommunication—an incorrectly recorded failed lift. None of us even knew the lift was recorded as failed until Coach Hernandez walked up to Xavier (Yaretzi's Uncle and PT) and said:
"Hey… was that last lift good or not? Because the score sheet shows two misses. You might want to go check."
Because of that heads-up, Xavier and the coaching staff were able to use video footage to prove 2 white lights were given and correct the scoring error to preserve Yaretzi’s spot in the competition.
Albert had nothing to gain from that. In fact, had she been disqualified, it would have not had any effect on his RHS result. But that’s not the kind of man he is.
The Lesson
Too many times I’ve heard coaches say, “I just want what’s best for the kids”—and then turn around and sabotage dual-sport athletes or complain about kids not attending their off-season programs.
Albert Hernandez lives that statement. He does what’s best for the athlete. Even if it doesn’t benefit him. Even if it costs him time. Even if no one notices.
Well—this time, someone noticed.
Why It Matters
In a sport like powerlifting, where timing, mentality, and every pound counts, a coach’s presence is everything. Not just in preparing athletes for performance, but in protecting them, advocating for them, and helping them stay focused under pressure.
Coach Hernandez didn’t just coach his own athletes. He elevated the entire competition.
I’m not writing this to undermine anyone else—but to shine a spotlight where it’s due. Albert didn’t have to help. He chose to. And in doing so, he showed every coach in that room what real leadership looks like.
We need more coaches like Albert. Coaches who see beyond the scoreboard and support every kid, no matter what logo is on their shirt.
Coach Hernandez—Thank You
On behalf of Roswell CrossFit, and from everyone who watched you in action at state: thank you.
You didn’t just coach nine athletes—you coached all of us.
For so many women, the gym is more than a place to work on physical strength-it's a sanctuary for the mind.
From walking into the gym at ages 6 and 8 to standing on the state podium this weekend, Vasanti and Yaretzi have shown what long-term dedication, consistency, and heart can accomplish. πͺ
With 1st and 3rd place finishes at the State Powerlifting Championships, these two aren’t just strong—they’re well-rounded athletes who excel in CrossFit, soccer, cross country, and basketball. This post highlights their journey, how starting young laid the foundation for success, and why we believe in training for life—not just for a season.
π Tap to read how years of hard work turned into championship moments.
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Memorial Day at Roswell CrossFit means one thing—Murph. It’s not just a workout. It’s a grueling test of endurance, strength, and mental grit. It’s a tradition. It’s a challenge. It’s a way to push your limits while honoring a hero. But let’s be real—Murph is tough. 1 mile run. 100 pull-ups. 200 push-ups. 300 air squats. 1 mile run. If you’ve ever done it, you know that winging it leads to suffering—slow reps, burning muscles, and a struggle to finish. But what if this year was different? What if this year, you felt strong, prepared, and ready to PR? βΈ» The Problem: Most People Show Up Underprepared For a lot of people, Murph ends up being a battle of sheer willpower because they didn’t train for it. • Their arms gas out before finishing pull-ups. • Push-ups turn into 2-rep sets. • Legs feel like jelly before the final mile. • Breathing becomes the biggest challenge. Sure, you’ll survive. But why just get through it when you could crush it? That’s why we created the 8-Week Murph Prep Program—so you’re not just hoping to finish—you’re confidently training to dominate. βΈ» The Solution: Train Smart, Perform Better Our Murph Prep Program is designed to build up your endurance, strengthen the movements, and help you develop the strategy needed to attack Murph the right way. πͺ What You’ll Get in the 8-Week Program: β Progressive endurance & strength training for pull-ups, push-ups, squats, & running. β A structured plan to improve performance while avoiding burnout. β Scaling strategies—whether you’re going RX or modifying the workout. β Expert coaching from Coach Yaretzi to keep you on track. βΈ» The Details π Program Start Date: March 23 ποΈ Meets: Sundays & Wednesdays π€ Coached by: Coach Yaretzi π° Pricing: Members: $79 | Non-Members: $149 π₯ Spots are limited! Don’t just survive Murph—train to dominate it. π₯ Contact Coach Yaretzi ASAP! βΈ» Why You Should Join β
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We’re 15 weeks into the year, and by now, a lot of people have already fallen off track with their fitness goals. If that’s you—don’t stress. The problem isn’t you. It’s how most people approach fitness.
Here’s where they go wrong (and how you can fix it).
Ever feel like tracking macros is confusing or like you’re not sure if you’re doing it right? You’re not alone. Many people get overwhelmed, but here’s the truth: it’s trial and error until you find what works for your body and your goals. Most people don’t struggle in the gym. They show up, work hard, and push themselves. The real battle happens in the kitchen—and even more than that, in the mindset around food. If you don’t have a strong support system at home, it can feel impossible to stay on track. So, How Do You Actually Figure Out Your Macros? β
Start Simple – Use a free macro calculator (like MacroFactor or Macro Calculator). β¬
οΈ This is a golden nugget that only a few people know about. If nothing else, use the principles from this website to build a solid foundation. β
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Adjust Based on Results – If your goal is fat loss but the scale isn’t moving, tweak the numbers. Don’t overthink it—just use the golden nugget website I listed above π. β
Accountability is Everything – Staying on track is tough when you’re the only one trying. Having the right support can be the difference between spinning your wheels and actually making progress. Who’s Holding You Accountable? If you’re relying solely on willpower, you’re making this harder than it needs to be. Most people succeed when they have: βοΈ Someone helping them see blind spots. βοΈ A system for tracking progress and making adjustments. βοΈ A support network that keeps them honest when motivation dips. If you don’t have that kind of support, let’s fix that. β
Book a Free Nutrition & Fitness Intro ASAP! No more guessing. No more spinning your wheels. Just results. π₯ Richie
