Azle ISD

On Saturday, September 30, a new group of members was inducted to the Azle ISD Athletic Hall of Fame – Don Ostermann, Montana De La Rosa, and the 2013 State Champion Girls Wrestling Team.

Don Ostermann, or “Coach O” as known by most, was the head boys cross country and track and field coach at Azle High School from 1980-2013 and the head girls cross country coach from 1980-1998. He also coached football from 1980-1992. As the head cross country coach, his team clinched the District title 16 times and secured second place 13 times. Over 33 years, his team qualified for the Regional Meet 30 of those years, totaling 41 teams in both boys and girls divisions. From 1980-1983, his boys teams won the Regional Championships. During Coach O’s reign as head coach, a total of five cross country teams and 17 individuals qualified for the State Meet, and Coach O had an athlete compete in the State Meet for five years. As the head track and field coach, he won four District Championships and achieved second place several times. He coached 19 State qualifiers, 191 Regional qualifiers, and his athletes set 13 of the 17 school records. 

Montana (Stewart) De La Rosa was a member of the Azle High School Class of 2013. At AHS, Montana placed twice at the UIL State Wrestling Tournament and won the State Championship during her senior year. During high school, she competed nationally and became an All-American wrestler placing third at Fargo Nationals. Montana received offers to wrestle collegiately but decided to try out mixed martial arts fighting. She began fighting professionally at age 19. She competed on The Ultimate Fighter, a television show that aired on Fox Sports, and earned a six-fight UFC contract. Montana made her official debut in 2017, starting her career with a 3-0 record. She continues to face some of the best flyweight fighters in the world. One of her most memorable victories was when she fought overseas in Australia, finishing her opponent with a triangle/arm bar and winning a $50,000 bonus. Montana and her husband Mark made history as the first-ever married couple to fight in the UFC and on the same card back in early 2000. Her next fight is scheduled for October 2023.

The Azle High School 2013 State Champion Girls Wrestling team members were Hannah McFarland, Paige Wolf, Montana Stewart, Jesse Grubbs, and Bernie Duhan. These ladies were part of the first group that would graduate after women's wrestling was established in Azle in 2008 that wrestled all four years of high school and one year of junior high. They were the first to compete in State Duals, to place in the top five in the state, and started a streak that continued for several years. They were also the first group to have Regional Champions, the first group that saw All-American honors at Fargo, and the first to win a Team State Championship Title for Azle High School. This team became the pioneers for Azle women's wrestling in what would become the norm for many years to come, taking home many trophies from UIL State, Regional, and District tournaments. They wrestled at some of the biggest and toughest tournaments in the country. They set the bar high for everyone else to try to follow. The team was coached by Chris Allen, Monica Allen, and Duston Shepherd.

A reception was held following the ceremony to honor the 2023 inductees with food provided and served by Azle High School Culinary Arts students.

The Azle ISD Athletic Hall of Fame was formed in 2014 to recognize members of the Azle ISD family who have distinguished themselves as outstanding contributors to Azle ISD athletics on and off the field of play, instilling a continuing commitment to and the promotion of the beliefs that Azle ISD values. Learn more about the AzleISD Athletic Hall of Fame.

Congratulations to the 2023 Hall of Fame Class!