FAIRMONT — If you were to look up Fairmont Senior’s Maximus Fortier on social media, you might come across a picture of him with his father spending time together in the great outdoors. You also might notice that this photo is captioned, “The Champ.”
If you do a deeper dive, you might find a photo of Fortier posing after his 2025 W.Va Class AAA state championship win, capping off a dynamic sophomore year on the mat. In a recent search, though, you’ll also find a picture of a smiling Fortier on a podium next to his opponents at the NHSCA Championships after capturing the second national wrestling championship of his career.
In essence, the nickname “The Champ” is fitting for someone like Fortier. He’s a proven winner, a natural competitor, and most importantly, a student-athlete with hopes and dreams of maintaining his already bright future.
With plenty of time left in his athletic career, it’s safe to say that the long list of accolades has only just begun.
This past weekend, Fortier competed in the NHSCA Championships in Virginia Beach, Va., a tournament that featured some of the most talented wrestling prospects across the country. The tournament is considered to be the “close-out” of the wrestling season, and plays host to over 6,000 high school wrestlers, some of whom are already nationally ranked and have received offers from Division I programs.
In a Friday-Sunday style bracket, Fortier first advanced to the quarterfinals before ultimately securing a spot in the championship match for the 152-pound weight class after winning his first matches 18-1 with a technical fall and a pin in 5:15.
He entered the national competition as the No. 2 seed in his class and also as a previous national champion his freshman year. By reaching the finals this year, Fortier also earned recognition as an All-American, a feat that many top collegiate programs consider to be one of the most important accolades one can achieve during their high school career.
The spotlight, however, was nothing new for Fortier, who recently became the third Fairmont Senior wrestler to win a state championship as a freshman, joining former Polar Bear standouts Zach Frazier and Jason Walker. This season, he also set a new record for best freshman winning percentage at 41-1.
In the championship round in Virginia, Fortier claimed his second national title with a commanding 10-1 victory, which consequently also boosted his national ranking and elevated his status as a prospect from the Mountain State.
According to the Fairmont Senior Wrestling Facebook page, Fortier has won every match this wrestling season by pin or technical fall, an accomplishment that surely cements his status as one of the most decorated wrestlers in Polar Bear history.
Fortier has received a significant amount of praise via social media, as Fairmont Senior athletic director Jeremy Laird has kept the Fairmont community informed of his continued journey. Laird released the following statements during the NHSCA championships.
“Max brought home the title at Freshman Nationals last year, and now he’s back on the big stage representing Polar Bear Nation once again,” Laird said. “The job’s not finished.”
Laird also released the following statement after the conclusion of the Class AAA wrestling season, a season in which Fairmont Senior competed in Class AAA for the first time after the reclassification of schools.
“This season brought new challenges as Fairmont Senior made the jump to Class AAA competition. Our Admin Team knew this transition would be no small task, as it meant facing new teams, new opponents, and navigating the inevitable ups and downs, including injuries. Through it all, our athletes and coaches rose to the occasion.”
“This season was just the beginning of a new era for Polar Bear wrestling, and ...
