|
|
FARGO, N.D. — There were more than 100 wrestlers in the 16-under 126-pound bracket at the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals in the Fargodome.
When the dust settled, Pipestone Area Schools’ own Miklo Hernandez became a national champion with a 7-0 decision over Tommy Marchetti, whose family has a noted history in this sport.
“It means a lot (to be national champion),” Hernandez said. “It’s been something I’ve been dreaming about since I was little.”
Pipestone’s Miklo Hernandez wrestles Caleb Kosko of Pennsylvania during the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals at The Fargodome in Fargo, N.D., last week. Hernandez took the garland in the 16U 126-pound class, winning seven matches for the title. (Contributed photo by Jeff Beshey/The Guillotine)
Hernandez said his goal was to place at the national tournament, especially based on his strong result from the CLAW U.S. Open in April at Las Vegas, where he finished sixth.
At the national tournament, Hernandez put on a dominant display of speed and hand fighting, crediting Brady Berger and Tanner Cook from Berge Elite Wrestling Academy in Brookings, S.D., for his development.
He entered the tournament ranked 18th nationally, but now he’s the cream of the crop.
All that training paid off in ways that can be measured.
Hernandez allowed only nine points in seven matches, with seven of them during a semifinal bout versus California’s Paul Ruiz.
“I made one mistake against him,” Hernandez admitted. “I thought I could have tech falled him.”
Pipestone’s Miklo Hernandez is presented with a plaque from a member of the U.S. Marine Corps for winning the 16U 126-pound championship at The Fargodome in Fargo, N.D., on Wednesday, July 16. ( Contributed photo by Jeff Beshey/The Guillotine)
Ruiz capitalized on that mistake, scoring six points during a 30-second stretch. He was the only wrestler to earn a takedown on Hernandez the entire tournament.
Hernandez finished with four technical falls, all in the first four rounds of the tournament over William Grafton-Hodgetts (Indiana), Aidan Matias (New Jersey), Caleb Kosko (Pennsylvania) and Graydon Martin (Virginia).
In the quarterfinals, Hernandez didn’t score a whole bunch; however, he still earned a 5-1 decision over Tennessee’s Jaxon Lane.
Hernandez stopped Marchetti cold in the championship bout, with no answers. Marchetti’s father, Tommy Jr., was a three-time NCAA Division I qualifier from Bucknell University (Pa.) and was the school’s first wrestling All-American — eventually inducted into the Bison Hall of Fame in 2009.
Marchetti was a freshman at Delbarton Academy, a private school based in Morristown, N.J., with an annual tuition near $50,000.
A member of the United States Marine Corps presented Hernandez with his championship plaque.
“I wanted to have it, and I wanted to touch it,” Hernandez stated. “It’s one of the biggest accomplishments I’ve had.”
Miklo Hernandez reacts after winning the national freestyle championship in the 126-pound weight class.(Contributed photo by Jeff Beshey/The Guillotine)
PAS head wrestling coach Paul Young beamed when discussing Miklo’s title run.
“It’s a big boost to our community, our program and our team,” Young said in a telephone interview with The Pipestone County Star.
Young said Hernandez has showed dramatic improvement in his attacks to shots, and those accompanying finishes.
Many people responded to the Star’s Facebook post on Hernandez’ accomplishment, which featured 40 comments, 14 shares and 347 likes or loves.
“Miklo is putting southwest Minnesota on the wrestling map,” said Adrian resident Jeff Bullerman.
Pipestone businessman Homero Hernandez was understandably proud of his son. The pair had a conversation after Miklo placed at CLAW.
“There’s a lot of doubt in this world,” Homero said. “But one thing I’ll never second guess is that Miklo is destined for greatness.”
There are special rules. For example, matches are composed of two two-minute periods.
Miklo Hernandez fills out his biography before the beginning of the championship round at the Fargodome in Fargo, N.D., on Wednesday, July 16. (Contributed photo)
Scoring is different, too, and Hernandez recorded what’s called a “grand amplitude” on more than one occasion.
A grand amplitude is a high-scoring move worth five points. A wrestler throws his or her opponent off the mat with a sweeping motion. That opponent then lands in a “danger position,” at risk of immediate exposure and control, per information gleaned on the NBC Olympics website.
Young added there is no penalty for using gut wrenches.
Overall, Hernandez has compiled a 32-4 national record, with 18 technical falls and one pin through four major events including the Northern Plains Regional Tournament and the 16U national duals in Utah, where he went 9-1 and helped Minnesota Blue to a top-tier finish.
Hernandez, also a two-time Minnesota State High School League Class A champion in different weight classes, should have college wrestling coaches salivating over the prospects of landing him.
Miklo’s younger brother, Oracio Hernandez also participated in the Northern Plains Regional Championships in Rochester, Minn., at 140 pounds.
In addition to the Hernandez brothers, other Arrows have opted to participate in regional tournaments to get better: Lane Fruechte, Mason Fruechte and Haden Mulvihill. All of them competed in both freestyle and Greco-Roman formats.
Pipestone Area Schools’ wrestlers (from left) Lane Fruechte, Mason Fruechte, Carlos Saenlouangraj, Haden Mulvihill and Miklo Hernandez all received major awards during the team’s special honors presentation on Monday, March 17, in the PAS Commons. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
“They are all putting time into wrestling to help them reach goals,” Young said. “It’s all about mat time, and facing different situations.”
Arrow wrestlers also have improved through open training sessions this summer on Mondays and Thursdays in the room at PAS, and during this week’s camp under clinician Cael Swensen from South Dakota State University.
WRESTLING
Road to a National Title
U.S. Junior Nationals
16-Under Division
At Fargodome
Fargo, N.D.
Round of 128: Miklo Hernandez, Pipestone, tech. fall William Grafton-Hodgetts, Indiana, 10-0 (1:14).
Round of 64: Hernandez tech. fall Aidan Matias, New Jersey, 10-0 (1:24)
Round of 32: Hernandez tech. fall Caleb Kosko, Pennsylvania, 13-0 (3:59)
Round of 16: Hernandez tech. fall Graydon Martin, Virginia, 14-1 (3:08)
Quarterfinals: Hernandez dec. Jaxon Lane, Tennessee, 5-1
Semifinals: Hernandez dec. Paul Ruiz, California, 10-7
Championship: Hernandez dec. Tommy Marchetti, New Jersey, 7-0