UPPER LAKE >> During a great 2016-17 sophomore season for Upper Lake High School wrestler Junior Fernandez, about the only thing missing was an appearance at the Doc Buchanan Invitational in Clovis, a high-level tournament that is often compared to the CIF State Championships in terms of quality opponents.
Fernandez was seeded 14th at 126 pounds and looking forward to competing against the best the state had to offer when he became sick with the flu and was forced to withdraw from the competition. It was a minor setback to be sure given that Fernandez went on to finish second in the North Coast Section and earn a state berth, the first of his illustrious career at the Northshore High School.
It’s now a year later and Fernandez is once again eying the competition as he prepares to go head to head with the best of the best. The two-day Doc Buchanan opens Friday and runs through Saturday at Clovis High School. While seedings weren’t available as of press time Wednesday, Fernandez is sure to be high up on the list at 126 pounds. After all, he’s undefeated on the season (12-0) and not a single opponent has been able to go a full three rounds with Fernandez yet — he has five pins to his credit and seven victories by technical fall. In short, he’s been thrashing the competition. He has three first-place finishes and three outstanding wrestler awards in the three tournaments he’s entered to date, including the Lou Bronzan Invitational late last month in Brentwood where he picked up a third championship belt in as many years.
The top-ranked 126-pounder in the North Coast Section this season, Fernandez is also a well-known commodity in the state. As of the Dec. 22 rankings in the California Wrestler, he is No. 5 in the state behind junior Cleveland Belton of St. John Bosco High School in the Southern Section, junior Lucian Arroyo of Calvary Chapel of the Southern Section, senior Ethan Leake of Buchanan High School of the Central Section, and freshman Ryan Francis of Clovis North of the Central Section.
A strong performance at the Doc Buchanan could move Fernandez up a notch or two in those state rankings as he prepares for a return trip to the CIF State Championships in early March.
Fernandez and Kelseyville High School junior Alex Garcia are the only Lake County wrestlers ranked in the state. Garcia is No. 40 at 152 pounds.
Of the many honors Fernandez has earned during his two-plus wrestling seasons at Upper Lake, he recently added another to his long and growing list when he was named a Tri-Titans Athlete. Sponsored by Tri-Titans Athletic Apparel, the award signifies sustained excellence in the classroom and on the mat. The O3T Program honors the cream of the crop among student-athletes.
If Fernandez goes on to win a state medal at the CIF State Championships later this year, he will become the third Upper Lake wrestler to do so in the past two seasons. A year ago two of his teammates, Christina Wilson and Adriana Lopez, placed third and sixth, respectively. Wilson, a senior, and Lopez, a junior, are in the hunt for state medals again this season.
