FARGO, N.D. >> Upper Lake High School’s Junior Fernandez has had one heck of a busy summer and it’s not over yet.
Fernandez, the standout 126-pounder for the Cougars and the North Coast Section runner-up this past season, recently returned home from a 10-day cultural exchange trip to Japan. After a brief break, Fernandez is back on the road again, this time to Fargo, North Dakota for the USMC/USAW Junior and Cadet National Championships at the Fargodome.
While in Fargo, Fernandez will compete in both freestyle and Greco-Roman styles of wrestling beginning Saturday with the start of the freestyle competition. All of his matches will be live-streamed on FloWrestling and wrestling fans can get bracket updates at FloArena.
Fernandez has proved himself to be an accomplished wrestler in freestyle, Greco-Roman and folkstyle wrestling this year, having won USA Wrestling California state tournaments in all three styles. In fact, he finished first in all three styles again last month during the Kids and Cadet Western Regionals in Pocatello, Idaho.
During his recent trip to Japan, Fernandez competed in duals against local high school wrestlers in the prefectures of Hokkaido, Aomori, Akita and Iwate. He went 4-0 overall with two pins and two technical falls in his first taste of international competition. Off the mat, Fernandez and his teammates did plenty of sightseeing while enjoying Japanese cuisine. They also rode the bullet train, which travels 200 mph.
“I would like to thank the community, my family and my friends for all the support they have given me throughout my wrestling career,” said Fernandez, who is especially appreciative of those who donated money to a fundraiser that made his Japan trip possible.
