Gaels’ Hernandez wins sophomore national title

Bishop Gorman 140-pound wrestler Steven Hernandez won the National High School Coaches Association sophomore national championship Saturday.

Hernandez said everything went "his way" in his five matches, culminating in a 10-8 decision over Greg Amos of Holt (Mo.) High.

"I got put in situations where I didn't want to be -- I got caught sometimes," said Hernandez, who was down 5-0 to Amos early in the finals. "But the whole tournament, I was put in situations where I had to fight out."

Hernandez's coach and father, Rick, credited Steven's resiliency to his ability to push himself even when successful; he won a state wrestling title in February.

"Most kids, at a certain level, they're done working," Rick Hernandez said. "They're done when the season's over with. But his mind-set and passion for the sport allow him to work a little bit harder year-round. He always seems to find another level to push himself into."

Steven Hernandez said he won't be satisfied with just the sophomore national championship.

"I'm definitely going to keep pushing myself -- I have two more years ahead," Hernandez said. "Once you win that one national championship, you have to keep working and working to repeat and get better."