Upper Lake’s Fernandez stuns No. 1 seed in quarterfinals

Upper Lake's Junior Fernandez closes in on a pin during one of his earlier matches Friday at the Doc Buchanan Invitational in Clovis. (Photo courtesy of Jamie Fernandez) — Upper Lake’s Junior Fernandez closes in on a pin during one of his earlier matches Friday at the Doc Buchanan Invitational in Clovis. (Photo courtesy of Jamie Fernandez)

PUBLISHED: January 4, 2019 at 8:17 PM PST

CLOVIS — Upper Lake High School senior Junior Fernandez upset No. 1 seed Ryan Franco of Clovis-North High School 5-4 in the 132-pound quarterfinals on Friday during the annual Doc Buchanan Invitational in Clovis.

Fernandez, the No. 8 seed, wrestles No. 5 seed Kyle Parco of De La Salle High School of Conrad in the semifinals on Saturday. The winner of that match advances to the championship against the winner of the other semifinal between No. 2 seed Marcos Polance of Bishop Amat High School of La Puente and No. 11 seed Noah Mirelez of Patterson.

A raise of the arm made it official as Upper Lake's Junior Fernandez stunned No. 1 seed Ryan Franco of North Clovis by 5-4 decision in the 132-pound quarterfinals on Friday at the Doc Buchanan Invitational in Clovis. He'll meet No. 5 seed Kyle Parco of De La Salle (Concord) in Saturday's semifinals. Fernandez is the No. 8 seed. (Photo courtesy of Jamie Fernandez)

Fernandez won his first three matches with ease on Friday. After a victory by 17-2 technical fall in his opening match, he won 11-0 in the second round and pinned his quarterfinal opponent after building a 7-0 lead.

Now 17-0, the undefeated Fernandez finally allowed his first points of the season that were not escape points in the victory over Franco, who is ranked third in the state.

Fernandez placed sixth at last year’s Doc Buchanan. This year’s tournament field includes 112 schools, 40 of them from out of state.