James “Chico” Hernandez of Washburn has been announced as one of six finalists in the Everyday Champions contest sponsored by General Mills.

“I’m really overwhelmed and I couldn’t be happier,” said Hernandez, a top U.S. amateur wrestler. “But by the same token I feel that this only happens to people I read about. These things don’t happen to me. They happen to other people.”

By becoming a finalist, Hernandez is guaranteed that his picture will be on the box of Wheaties Energy Crunch cereal.

“He’s one of the people on the box. We don’t know if he’s on the front or the back but he’s on the box,” Mark Zimerbort said.

Zimerbort works for Alan Taylor Communications of New York City, the marketing firm that is handling the contest for General Mills.

Contestants entered essays concerning their athletic accomplishments and their contributions to their communities.

Initially one winner from each state and the District of Columbia were selected. The number was then reduced to 10.

Zimerbort said the contest winner’s picture will be on the front of the box while the remaining five finalists will be on the back.

The winner will be announced on Dec. 12 during a press conference at Madison Square Garden.

Hernandez will attend the press conference where a surprise guest will reveal the winner by unveiling a large box of the cereal with the winner’s picture on the box. The guest is expected to be an athlete whose picture has appeared on a box of Wheaties.

Hernandez recently returned from Nice, France, where he competed in the Sombo Wrestling World Cup.

The 48-year-old Hernandez finished in fifth place in the 1801/2-pound division, winning his first fight against a Tunisian fighter. Hernandez lost to six-time French national champion Mickael Le Lieve.

Venezuela won the team championship. The United States finished second.