![\"Daniel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MIA_11_All_County_MJO.JPG\" "\\"Westminster")
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Westminster Christian\u2019s Daniel Fernandez is the Miami Herald\u2019s Miami-Dade Scholar Athlete of the Year.<\/p>\n
Photo by Matias J. Ocner<\/p>\n
mocner@miamiherald.com<\/p>\n
Senior Daniel Fernandez never shied away from a challenge during his high school career.<\/p>\n
It didn\u2019t matter if it was on the football field, lacrosse field, basketball court or in the shot put in track, Fernandez was ready for success.<\/p>\n
Fernandez was no different in the classroom where his grades made him one of the top students in his senior class at Westminster Christian.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m grateful to my parents because since I was little they\u2019ve been pushing me to be the best I can be,\u201d Fernandez said. \u201cI always thought it was a lot (playing different sports and keeping my grades up) because it\u2019s a big load to take on. But as I got closer to the end of my high school career, I knew it was possible to achieve in both academics and athletics and balance everything. I\u2019m glad I didn\u2019t let their sacrifices go to waste. It all paid off in the end.\u201d<\/p>\n
It did for Fernandez, who is headed to Davidson College to continue his football career and pursue a business degree.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I decided I wanted to take football to the next level,\u201d Fernandez said. \u201cAt first my choices were some of the Ivy League schools. When they came around, it was an incredible opportunity and I committed in December.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fernandez is also the Miami Herald\u2019s Miami-Dade County Boys\u2019 Scholar-Athlete of the Year.<\/p>\n
Fernandez, a 6-1, 210-pound defensive end\/outside linebacker, led the Warriors\u2019 football team to an 8-2 record this past season and the playoffs. He totaled 69 tackles, including 29 for loss, and recorded 12 sacks. He also forced four fumbles, including one he recovered and returned for a touchdown.<\/p>\n
![\"Daniel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MIA_10_All_County_MJO.JPG\" "\\"MIA_10_All_County_MJO.JPG\\"")
Westminster Christian\u2019s Daniel Fernandez is the Miami Herald\u2019s Miami-Dade Scholar Athlete of the Year. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n
But during his career, Fernandez rarely stopped.<\/p>\n
Fernandez also played basketball where he was a guard on that team from his freshman to junior seasons, helping those squads to winning seasons.<\/p>\n
Fernandez also excelled in track and field where he threw both the shot put and javelin. This past month, Fernandez was a district runner-up in the shot put.<\/p>\n
And this spring, he joined Westminster\u2019s lacrosse team where he excelled as a defender for a district championship team.<\/p>\n
Fernandez did all of this while maintaining a 5.15 weighted grade point average, and scored a 32 on the ACT. He is an Emerald Scholar, President of the National Honor Society and Vice President of Business National Honor Society.<\/p>\n
Football is the sport Fernandez will play at the next level and the one he fell in love with once he realized his potential.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce I knew I had more of an opportunity to do something in the sport, I started living and breathing the sport and really committing myself to it,\u201d Fernandez said.<\/p>\n