Multi-Champion Laurie Hernandez Inspires Delmarva Gymnasts

May 22, 2017 Posted by Matt Pencek Featured Sports, Local Sports

Fruitland, MD – A few weeks shy of her 17th birthday, Laurie Hernandez has achieved the highest levels sports and entertainment. Hernandez was a member of the 2016 Gold Medal winning United States Women’s Gymnastics team at the Rio de Janeiro games. She followed that by taking the fall 2016 Dancing With The Stars title.

This past Saturday, Hernandez made an appearance at Beach Bounders and interacted with a group of young gymnasts. “I’m hoping I can send them a lot of positivity and I can help them with whatever fears they have,” Hernandez said. “Maybe help them with some mental blocks as well.”

Those participating were able to do so because they raised money for the Brooke Mulford Foundation. Mulford, a Salisbury native and former Beach Bounders member, is battling neuroblastoma. It’s a cancer that has impacted a great deal of Mulford’s body.

About Matt Pencek

Matt joined WBOC in October 2015 as a Sports Broadcast Journalist. He is a native of Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania. Matt graduated from Penn State where he received a bachelor’s degree in journalism. He started his broadcast career as the news/sports director of WEMR AM 1460 in his hometown of Tunkhannock. Matt held that same position for WALI/WROG radio in Cumberland, MD. His first television position was as the weekend sports anchor at WHAG-TV in Hagerstown, MD where he eventually became the Sports Director. Matt then moved to Florence, SC to become a sports reporter/anchor for WPDE-TV In 2011 along with his brother David, Matt co-authored The Great Book of Penn State Sports Lists. From 2012 – 2015 he was the lead radio play-by-play voice for The Friday Night High School Football Game of the Week for DE FOX Sports 1290 in Wilmington, DE. The last 2 years at the radio station Matt was the studio host during the University of Delaware Football radio broadcasts. He has also called the action for the both the Blue Hens men’s and women’s basketball teams. Outside of work, Matt is married to his wife Shannon and has two sons; Jack and Connor. E-mail Matt Pencek at mpencek@wboc.com and follow him on Twitter @mattpencek_wboc. Check out all stories by Matt.