The Live Oak junior was three wins from wrestling for third
place
SAN JOSE — Steven Fernandez’s quest to make the state wrestling tournament will have to wait another year.
The Live Oak junior — seeded fifth at 142 pounds — on Saturday was eliminated from the CIF-Central Coast Section finals at Independence High School with a 7-4 loss to Steven Borba of San Benito.
It was the sixth loss of the season for Fernandez, who was three wins from wrestling for third place — and advancing to state. He was making his third section-finals appearance.
Fernandez drew a bye in his opening match and advanced through Friday by pinning Gilroy’s Adam Rosso in the second period. Fernandez ended the day with an 11-0 loss to No. 4 Chase McDowell of Bellarmine, dropping into the consolation bracket.
