Jared Fernandez earned his spot in this weekend’s CIF State Wrestling Tournament the hard way.
Fernandez, a senior at Canyon, lost his first match this past Saturday, which dropped him to the ninth-place bracket of the Masters Meet.
It was a place he was familiar with. As a sophomore, Fernandez, who then wrestled at 160 pounds, dropped a 5-2 decision in the ninth-place final and failed to make the state tournament.
This time, Fernandez took care of business, winning by fall and then 7-0 in the ninth-place final at 170 pounds to earn a spot in the CIF State Wrestling Tournament.
“That match was very clear in my head,” Fernandez said of his attempt to qualify as a sophomore. “I remember getting taken down right at whistle, getting cradled and getting rode out. I knew I didn’t want that to happen.
“This match was the opposite. I got the early takedown, I rode him out. It was a satisfying last match.”
The victory afforded Fernandez “One More Monday.”
“That’s our motto when we get to the postseason,” Fernandez said. “Every tournament you get to determines if you’re going to continue wrestling. We’re always looking to fight that one more Monday in practice. One more week, one more tournament.”
Fernandez is ranked in the top 15 in the state rankings. He will open the state tournament, which begins today in Bakersfield, against Jake Levantino of Buchanan. Levantino is ranked No. 11 and finished fourth in the Central Section Masters.
The first round of wrestling today begins at 9 a.m. at Rabobank Arena.
Fernandez said he is not concerned about the rankings.
“Last year, I looked at the rankings a lot more,” he said. “I think looking at them last year kind of got into my head a little bit. I would think, I’m ranked this and he’s two (spots) above me, so I’m not supposed to win that match. I think looking at them last year, kind of got in my head.
“Rankings are just expectations. Just because someone is ranked above you, doesn’t mean you’re going to lose to them.”
Last year, Fernandez went 1-2 at Masters.
His postseason run this year started with winning a league title at the Century Conference finals and a CIF title at the Southern Division Individual Championships, along with Upper Weight MVP honors.
“170s is a tough weight class,” Canyon coach Rich O’Connor said. “He’s only lost to guys ranked in the top 20 in state. You put him up against a San Diego (Section) 1, a Central Coast (Section) 1, 2, he’s got a great chance. The fact he took ninth (at Masters), maybe that will help him out.”
There are 25 county wrestlers that qualified for the state tournament.
Esperanza’s Aaron Nagao is the fourth seed at 106 pounds. Calvary Chapel’s Luciano Arroyo is the third seed at 120, as is Santa Ana’s Joey Daniel at 220 pounds. San Clemente’s Kyle Marshall is the sixth seed at 195.
Arroyo placed seventh at last year’s tournament at 113 pounds.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@scng.com
