Some athletes leave behind records, while others leave a standard for those who follow. Cumberland County senior Liam Fuentes hopes his time with the Jets will do both, building on a rare golf accomplishment while encouraging younger teammates to reach heights he helped make possible.
Fuentes has concluded his career with the Jets golf program as one of only six players in school history to qualify for the state tournament in back-to-back seasons.
Fuentes said the achievement represents a significant milestone for both his personal athletic journey and the legacy of the high school. Fuentes said his coach informed him of the rarity of the feat, noting that very few golfers have reached the state level in consecutive years during the program’s history.
“Well, I think going to state is just great alone, but I was told by my coach as long as the golf team has been there, I’m the sixth person to ever go back-to-back,” Fuentes said. “So I think it’s safe to say that is a huge accomplishment both for myself and for the school and as a Jets golfer.”
Fuentes said the sport has served as a primary vehicle for personal growth and maturity during his time at Cumberland County. Fuentes said the game taught him how to navigate difficult situations and maintain a perspective that extends into his daily life.
“Honestly, it’s really helped me in tons of ways, but mainly just really helped me mature as a person and kind of shape the way I look at the world, and not just outside of golf, but with everything else I do,” Fuentes said. “It’s helped me learn how to be able to put a tough situation kind of behind me and just be able to move forward, and also kind of show more respect and care for others in a way that I don’t think I would be able to if I didn’t play golf.”
Fuentes said the social aspect of the team was particularly impactful because he is a homeschooled student. Fuentes said practicing and playing rounds with his teammates provided essential daily interaction and a shared passion for the sport.
“They have had an impact on my life and they’ve been great people to hang out with,” Fuentes said. “And overall, having them there and having someone to share something I love with, which is golf, and be able to play with everybody has really just made my high school experience great and it’s kind of pushed me to keep going and try to do better as well.”
Fuentes said the mental demands of golf are often more challenging than the physical skills required to play. Fuentes said he observed many talented players struggle because they could not manage their mindsets or attitudes on the course.
“And for me to do the best I can, I’ve had to learn to overcome that and be able to have a strong mindset and be able to overcome things that I wouldn’t generally be needing to at this stage of my life,” Fuentes said. “And golf has just put me in some tough situations and I’ve been able to get through those, and in turn I’ve learned things that are really useful to me on the golf course as well as in my day-to-day life.”
Fuentes said he hopes his time with the Jets leaves a lasting impression on the younger players remaining in the program. Fuentes said he wants to be viewed as a friend and a motivator who encouraged others to surpass his own accomplishments.
“I’d be really happy if I could be someone that pushed them, those that are still on the team, to try to achieve even greater heights and make it even further than what I did,” Fuentes said. “I’d be really proud to know that maybe I was some sort of role model to them.”