FOUNTAIN VALLEY – For the second consecutive week, Gerardo Hernandez turned in another strong performance that’s starting to open eyes and build his confidence.
Hernandez, a junior from Capistrano Valley High, finished eighth at last week’s Doc Buchanan Invitational and he followed that with a second-place finish at 182 pounds at the Five Counties Invitational, Saturday at Fountain Valley High.
Hernandez entered the field as the second-seed.
He was inches from wrapping up the weekend with one of the coveted championship belts.
Hernandez trailed Angel Solis of Lemoore 2-0 in the fourth period. He scored an escape and with approximately 90 seconds left, hit what looked to be the deciding takedown, but the referee disallowed it with 4.2 seconds left.
Solis, who is ranked fifth in the state, eventually came away with the 2-1 decision.
“I was expecting him to move faster,” Hernandez said. “I’m not going to lie, I got kind of surprised when I got the takedown, but it was hard to bring him back in-bounds.
“I could have wrestled better. I think I was kind of timid because he placed higher than me at Doc B and he’s ranked way higher than me in state, but it is what it is, I’ll see him again.”
Last week, Hernandez knocked off the No. 7- and 19th-ranked wrestlers in the state.
That momentum carried over to this week as Hernandez, who moved up 17th in the state rankings compiled by The California Wrestler.com, recorded five consecutive pins to make his way to the finals.
As with any wrestler, confidence plays a strong role in his success and that’s a fight that Hernandez continues to face.
“Sometimes I have trouble believing in myself that I can hang with the best in the state,” Hernandez said. “I can compete with anybody that gets in front of me. All my coaches and my teammates hype me up that I can do, but sometimes it is hard for me to believe in myself when it comes to tournaments like this.
“I lost 2-1 to No. 5 guy in the state, that says something, last week, I had tough matches, stuff like this is building up and they’re little puzzle pieces and hopefully by the time Masters and State comes around, the puzzle is put together.”
The other county finalist was Servite freshman Josh Medina. Medina, who is ranked sixth in the state, lost by fall to Alex Nunez of Alta Loma in the 120-pound final.
The Friars led all county teams with an eighth-place finish. Troy Madrigal (152) finished fifth. Marcos Polanco was sixth at 120, but he wrestled as Servite B.
Selma captured the overall title with 219 points. Northview of Covina led all schools with eight medalists.
The marquee matchup of the finals came at 126 pounds as third-ranked Robert Garcia of Selma defeated second-ranked Jaden Abas of Rancho Bernardo, 1-0, in overtime.
Trabuco Hills finished with three medalists. Trey Munoz was rallied to finish third at 126 pounds and Brian Hernandez (120) and Cody Burdette (160) were both seventh.
Mater Dei (Joey McLaughlin, 106 and Devin Pacheco, 138), Aliso Niguel (Ali Kaveh, 113 and Sam Azr, 160) and Fountain Valley (Karson Ayres, 145 and Merrick O’Donnell, 180) had two medalists apiece.
Los Alamitos’ Ethan Bakker finished third at 220. Irvine’s Alex Bay (152) and Cypress’ Devin Daugherty (138) were both seventh at their weights.
Jose Mata of Santa Ana finished sixth at 113 pounds and Marina’s John McCoy finished eighth at 138.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@scng.com
