Morales, Fernandez reach finals in challenging tournament
SAN JOSE — Tony Morales and Steven Fernandez represented Live Oak well last week in the Central Coast Throwdown at Piedmont Hills High School.
The Acorn team captains both reached the finals in their weight classes, with Morales taking first place at 119 pounds. Fernandez placed second at 140.
“We were very pleased with the way both wrestlers performed,” Live Oak coach Robert Fernandez said in a statement. “Both Tony and Steve are peaking at the right time, and we expect a good postseason for them and their teammates.”
Robert Fernandez said Morales “put on a clinic” in his opening match against Nick Renteria of Salinas, winning by technical fall 17-2. Because of the four-man format, Morales advanced to the title match where he outlasted Prospect’s Brian Santana 13-10. Morales scored a rare five-point move in the first minute and exchanged points back and forth the rest of the way.
Like Morales, Steven Fernandez dominated his first match, handing San Mateo’s Marcus Gebhardt his first loss of the season — 14-6 — before facing a stiff finals test. Fernandez drew San Lorenzo Valley’s Cody Rodebaugh, who’s ranked No. 1 in the section and No. 2 in the state.
After trailing 4-2 at the end of the first period, Fernandez caught Rodebaugh by surprise in the second, turning a reversal that put Rodebaugh on his back for a brief moment. Rodebaugh regained control in the third period, though, and pinned Fernandez.
“We consider losing to Cody a good loss in the way Steven battled,” Robert Fernandez said.
