BILLINGS — A substantial wrestling turnout at Billings West High School has the Bears poised for a third consecutive Class AA state championship as the 2024-25 season kicks off. The intriguing aspect is, head coach Jeremy Hernandez remarked that this year’s squad might be even more formidable than the previous one. “You know, their depth […]
BILLINGS — A substantial wrestling turnout at Billings West High School has the Bears poised for a third consecutive Class AA state championship as the 2024-25 season kicks off. The intriguing aspect is, head coach Jeremy Hernandez remarked that this year’s squad might be even more formidable than the previous one.
“You know, their depth is incredible, and the competition in this room is fierce. They are eager and aspire to be the standout,” Hernandez shared with MTN Sports.
Remarkably, he’s referring to a group of incoming freshmen anxious to claim that standout spot.
“(They’ve) been in our club since they were just 4 and have navigated through the system, clearly understanding the expectations,” he elaborated.
The goal is to solidify their hold on the team trophy. A new victory would tally five state championships for the Bears, who previously triumphed in 1994 and 1974.
Though they bid farewell to four-time individual champion Keyan Hernandez, now competing at the University of Iowa, Zach Morse returns as the state’s sole male pursuing his fourth title, along with junior Makael Aguayo aiming for a three-peat.
“I wrestled the entire summer to enhance my skills, particularly on the bottom. Last year, I faced challenges there, and I’ve concentrated heavily on improving that aspect,” Aguayo mentioned before a recent practice.
He’s shifting weight classes from 132 pounds to 138 and believes this change offers him an advantage.
“I wasn’t large by any standard (last year). Now, I’ve bulked up and can effectively cut down to weight this year, which I think will benefit me significantly,” Aguayo stated.
Senior Anthony Garcia is also motivated as he competes at 190 pounds. He struggled with an illness and wasn’t satisfied with his third-place result from last February.
“I was quite ill last year, so my goal is to secure a win this season. (The outcome was) quite frustrating. I was upset for an extended period,” Garcia expressed.
West brings back 17 state tournament qualifiers, and if the Bears maintain their health and depth leading up to February 2025, they could be formidable.
“One key aspect of the state tournament is that you can enter two competitors in one weight class. For instance, I could take two athletes at 144 pounds to the state meet, and both might reach the finals. I’ve yet to witness that, but anything can happen,” Hernandez remarked.
