Another new season, another new coach for the Live Oak High
wrestling program. Robert Fernandez became the fourth coach in the
last four seasons when he was hired earlier this week, replacing
Manny Fernandez (no relation) who resigned this week. Manny
Fernandez replaced Ron Nichols with last season underway. Nichols
took over the year before for longtime coach Mike Fredenburg.
Another new season, another new coach for the Live Oak High wrestling program.
Robert Fernandez became the fourth coach in the last four seasons when he was hired earlier this week, replacing Manny Fernandez (no relation) who resigned this week. Manny Fernandez replaced Ron Nichols with last season underway. Nichols took over the year before for longtime coach Mike Fredenburg.
The difference this season is, odds are Robert Fernandez will stick around for a while. That’s because his daughter, Moriah, is a freshman wrestler and will likely be part of the program for the next four seasons.
“I’m really excited to take over,” Fernandez said. “We’re a real young team but we’ll be a quality team and I want to maintain a positive outlook.”
Fernandez, 38, wrestled at Independence High and made CCS at 165 pounds his senior year.
A club wrestling coach in San Jose for a decade, he has his hands full with the Acorn wrestling program for a couple of reasons.
First, the team is very young, having graduated seven seniors off last season’s successful squad that sent a school-record nine wrestlers to the Central Coast Section finals. Two returning CCS wrestlers are Hondo Dominguez (125-pound weight class), who is currently ranked No. 8 in CCS, and Jason Hendersen (119). Senior Jon Redmond also returns for the Acorns.
The other, and perhaps more significant, challenge is fundraising.
According to Fernandez, the program is in the midst of a fundraising drive to help defray travel costs and entry fees to tournaments due to a lack of school funding. The program is also raising money for warm-up suits.
Currently, the program is seeking sponsors for the varsity and JV teams.
Fernandez, assisted by Kevin Courtney and former LO wrestler Pat Courtney, said his wrestlers will compete at Leigh High’s Stampede Tournament this weekend, then plan on picking up a few individual tourneys along the way over the next month in preparation for the start of the regular season in January.
To help sponsor the LO wrestling program, call (408) 710-5106 for information.
