Gorman’s Hernandez not resting on his laurels

Most high school wrestlers would be satisfied with three state championships, two prestigious Reno Tournament of Champions titles and a 160-6 career record.

Bishop Gorman senior Steven Hernandez isn’t like most wrestlers.

“I’ve still got one more to go, so I can’t be too satisfied,” said Hernandez, who has signed with Boise State. “When I was younger, one of my biggest goals was to win a four-time state title and go on to wrestle in college. Now I’m here (wrestling for a fourth title).”

Hernandez (36-2) will make a run at becoming Nevada’s 26th four-time state champion when the state tournament begins at 9 a.m.

Friday at Cox Pavilion. The Gaels 152-pounder would be the first four-time champion in Class 4A since 2006, when Cimarron-Memorial’s Randel Aleman became the eighth large-school wrestler to do it since 1974.

When he started wrestling at age 4 in Salem, Ore., Hernandez had big dreams, many of them involving wrestling at Oregon State University.

“For the longest time, Oregon State was my No. 1 choice,” Hernandez said. “My wrestling partner went there, and a lot of my friends went there growing up. But I figured things out and wanted bigger and better things, and Boise State was that.”

Even with his college decision made, and coming off a 145-pound title at the National High School Coaches Association Junior National Wrestling Championships in Virginia Beach, Va., in April, the three-time state champion knew this season wouldn’t be a walk in the park.

“I feel like this has been a tougher season,” he said. “My sophomore year, it was pretty tough, but I banged to the top. My junior year was pretty much the same thing. But this year, I’m going to train harder and go out there to win again. I know people are coming for me.”

The senior works out three times a day and has trained with teammate Johnny Field at a local mixed martial arts gym.

“Every practice is pretty brutal,” Hernandez said. “Even in the wrestling room, my partners and my coaches are always pushing me.”
That example is quick to rub off on younger Gaels wrestlers.

“The kids look up to him,” Gorman coach John Field said. “Our young kids got a pretty big gift, to be able to watch him and learn from him, so that next year, when he’s gone, those guys are going to remember how he went about his business.”

Although Field said he is focused on helping Hernandez accomplish his biggest goal before college, he acknowledges a big hole will be left at 152 pounds once the senior graduates.

“You’ll never replace him. I think you just look back and enjoy what he brought to the table for four years,” Field said. “To me, it’s like a Heisman Trophy winner on a college football team … you don’t get too many Heismans back to back.”