April 28, 2008

LARAMIE, Wyo. -

University of Wyoming head wrestling coach Steven Suder added some much needed depth to the Cowboys 197 pound weight class with the signing of Alfonso Hernandez from Blackfoot, Idaho. Hernandez will enroll at UW for the fall semester of 2008 and join the Cowboy wrestling team.

Hernandez was a two-time state champion at 197 pounds, placed fifth as a sophomore and took third at the Junior Nationals in Virginia Beach, Va. He is ranked sixth in the nation by intermat.com and collected 106 wins in his high school career, all this after beginning his wrestling career as a freshman. Hernandez was a four-time letterwinner in wrestling, three-time letterwinner in track and a two-time letterwinner in football at Blackfoot High School. He will graduate with a 3.7 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society.

"Alfonso is a great addition to a very good recruiting class," Suder said. "A National Honor Society student who just happens to also be ranked sixth in the nation in his weight class is a special thing. Alfonso hasn't wrestled very long like most athletes have at this point in their careers and has experienced a lot of success. That is a tremendous `upside'. He will fit in great."