Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1991
- Class:
- 1978
Having the dubious distinction of wrestling for the first four mat teams at YSU, the team grew as Don Hernan matured during his four-year stay for the Penguins. The Penguins couldn't win a match during the first year of intercollegiate mat competition. The next season wasn't much better as they posted an 8-19-1 mark. His first two seasons, the team was 8-39-1.
During his final two seasons, the team went 19-9 and for the most part, finally arrived on the national collegiate wrestling scene. A four-year letterman and team captain his senior season, he was a four time NCAA tournament qualifier and was the 1976 Olympic Trial Champion and Olympic National Qualifier. In 31 home matches during his four-year career he never lost a match.
In 1976, as a sophomore, he copped third place honors at the Wilkes Open Tournament. He was the winner of the 1977 Ashland College Invitational Tournament as a junior. As a senior, he won the 1978 All Ohio Invitational Tournament at the University of Cincinnati and the Lafayette Open Tournament in Easton Pa. his overall record was 76-19, but more impressive was the fact that he was 31-0 on his home mat.
He and his wife, Sue, have two sons: Jeremy and Matthew.
