Mepham's Hernandez repeats as state champion in wrestling

Already in select company with three Nassau County wrestling championships under his belt, senior Louis Hernandez became the third two-time New York state champion in Mepham High School history last Saturday night when he defeated Anthony Deprez of Hilton, 8-4, in the 152-pound title match at Albany’s Times Union Center.

Hernandez, who joined Mike Arena (1983-84) and Alan Stock (1966-67) as back-to-back state champs for the Pirates, won the 145-pound crown last winter.

“It’s a tremendous feeling,” said Hernandez, who will take a record of 42-1 to a national tournament in Indiana, Pa., April 4-6. “It was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I knew I was capable, but there are so many great wrestlers and so many upsets at the state tournament, you never know what can happen.”

Mepham head coach Rich Anderson said that Hernandez used two takedowns — one in each of the first two periods — to gain control in the finals against the previously undefeated Deprez after holding off North Rockland’s Blaise Benderoth, 7-5, in the semifinals eight hours earlier. “I was pushed hard in the semifinals, but I needed it,” Hernandez said. “It was the first time I was taken down all season.”

Anderson agreed that Benderoth was Hernandez’s biggest challenge of the season. “Louis is so technically skilled, and he showed his toughness in the semis,” Anderson said. “It was a close match, and he did what he needed to do to win. He managed three takedowns.”

Hernandez, who has drawn interest from several colleges, including Bloomsburg (Pa.), Maryland, North Carolina State and Rutgers, is Mepham’s 12th state champion. He said his experience being on the big stage in Albany helped him stay relaxed.

“Last year I was nervous,” he said. “That wasn’t the case this time.”

He said he used the downtime between the semifinals and finals to grab a bite to eat with his family — his father, Louis, mother, Sandra, and brother, Albert — and take a nap. “I like the long break between matches,” he said. “I was able to get some rest and refuel for the finals.”

Hernandez, who has 147 career victories, opened the two-day event with a 19-4 tech fall victory over Shaquille Jones of Hillcrest last Friday morning. He came back in the afternoon to pin Anthony Bell of Fairport in 5:22.

“Louis has been a pleasure to watch and coach,” Anderson said. “He’s a great kid who constantly works to get better. He’s never satisfied.”