BAKERSFIELD >> The “blood round” is aptly named as Upper Lake High School’s Junior Fernandez can certainly tell you.
The standout 126-pounder was just one win away from earning some sort of medal and just one loss away from going home on Saturday during the second and final day of the CIF State Wrestling Championships at the Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield. Standing in Fernandez’s way of becoming the first Lake County boy to win a state medal since Middletown’s Steve Franklin in 2006 was No. 3 seed Ethan Leake of Buchanan High School.
Fernandez, the No. 9 seed, appeared on his way to a pretty substantial upset with a 4-1 lead late in the match when Leake scored a two-point reversal and a two-point nearfall to pull out a 5-4 victory in the consolation bracket match. Leake went on to secure a third-place medal.
Needless to say, the season-ending loss for Fernandez stung a bit, especially given what was at stake.
“It was definitely a heartbreaking loss for Junior, but it definitely lit a fire under his ass,” said Junior’s coach and dad, Jose Fernandez. “All the way home all he could talk about was how hard he plans on training this offseason.
“In my opinion Junior truly is in the top three in the state, without a doubt. We will fix his mistakes and come back next year better, stronger, faster and smarter.”
Fernandez and Kelseyville’s Alex Garcia, both juniors, were Lake County’s lone entries in the state tournament this year. Both experienced early success Friday before dropping into the consolation bracket of their respective weight classes — Garcia is a 152-pounder. While Fernandez was able to survive the first day’s cut, Garcia fell out of the running after losing two of his first three matches.
Fernandez
After winning his first two matches Friday, Fernandez dropped an 8-6 decision to No. 8 seed and eventual sixth-place medalist Lokhai Tonge of Elk Grove High School in the round of 16. Fernandez bounced back with an impressive 19-7 win over Isaiah Ramirez of Barstow in the consolation bracket to reach Saturday.
The North Coast Section runner-up this season, Fernandez opened the tournament Friday with a 12-5 win over Raul Valdovinos of Clovis West in an outbracket match, then he rallied from a 4-0 deficit to pin Rocky Raby of West Valley High School in the round of 32.
Fernandez finishes the season with a 44-8 record.
Reaching his first state tournament as a sophomore in 2017, Fernandez went 1-2 and was eliminated on day one.
“I’m extremely proud of him and how much he has grown this season and I am beyond proud of our team and with three kids ranked in the state in the top 10,” Fernandez said of son Junior and Upper Lake girls state medalists Adriana Lopez (third) and Christina Wilson (fourth).
“I am beyond proud of our coaching staff, our athletes and our school as well,” Fernandez said.
Garcia
Garcia, a junior 152-pounder, beat Esteban Molina of Firebaugh High School 5-0 in the round of 32 before losing by first-round pin to No. 1 seed Domonic Mata of powerhouse Poway High School in the round of 16. Mata went on to claim the state title.
Needing a victory against Louis Rojas of St. John Bosco to avoid elimination, Garcia lost 7-2, ending his season.
Garcia placed third in the North Coast Section Championships last weekend to earn his first trip to the state tournament. He closes out the season with a 32-9 record.
