Live Oak beats Lick 42-27 to capture first team title since
1981
MORGAN HILL — Robert Fernandez tried his best to grasp the enormity of Wednesday’s win over Lick, an event that ended nearly three decades of futility for a Live Oak wrestling team he began coaching six years ago.
With their convincing 42-27 triumph against the visiting Comets, the Acorns earned their second team championship in program history and first since 1981.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Fernandez said. “I give all the credit to the kids and all the hard work they’ve put in. A league title is something special; something they’ll always have to share.”
On Feb. 10, 2010, they turned an institution best known for its football, baseball, aquatics, soccer and peculiar nickname into a wrestling school for one night. The Live Oak Gym was packed with a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd that included several former Acorns wrestlers and coaches. Many of the fans had never seen a dual.
“It’s crazy seeing all these people,” Live Oak senior Joe Dorsch, a first-year grappler, said. “Knowing about the history, it’s a honor to be a part of this.”
Days before the historical West Valley Division dual, Fernandez discussed the history of his program as best he could with athletic director Mark Cummins, who has been at LOHS for 24 years. It didn’t take long for them to pinpoint why the team had not captured a league crown in 29 seasons. The Acorns spent most of those wrestling in the Tri County Athletic League.
“Mark and I looked at each other and said, ‘Gilroy and Hollister,'” Fernandez said Tuesday, referring to the two state powerhouses south of Morgan Hill. “‘Nuff said.”
Located on a wall inside Live Oak’s wrestling room are several articles from past years. One of Fernandez’s favorites is a 2002 clipping about a rare victory over Gilroy. The Acorns lost to San Benito later that season and placed second in TCAL; their best finish during the title drought.
“As a coach, it’s a great feeling,” said Fernandez, whose team finished sixth in the same division last winter. “The West Valley isn’t exactly the best league, but I’d take a YMCA after-school league title.”
Winning the West Valley had been the Acorns’ goal all season. They never looked past their next opponent, even as they racked up wins by lopsided margins. The closest dual during their undefeated — 7-0 — run was a one-point victory over runner-up Pioneer.
The defending champion Comets (5-2) finished third.
“Coach kept telling us to just focus on our six minutes on the mat,” junior 137-pounder Cesar Gamboa said. “It took all of us doing our best one match at a time.”
Gamboa’s 22-15 victory over Daniel Santos in a hard-fought match that featured six takedowns, four reversals and two escapes put Live Oak in command for good ahead 21-9. Dorsch (147 pounds) pinned Juan Sanchez in the first round to make it 28-12 going into the main event between captains Steven Fernandez of Live Oak and Ray Jacob Jimenez at 154 pounds. Fernandez, Robert’s son, is ranked fifth in the Central Coast Section at 147, and Jimenez, the Comets coach’s grandson, is No. 8 at 142.
Trailing 9-7, Fernandez scored a takedown with 10 seconds left in the third round to force overtime. Jimenez dove at Fernandez’s legs early in the sudden-death period, but Fernandez sprawled and slowly worked his way behind Jimenez for two points, bringing the audience to its feet.
“He’s an animal. I wrestled him before and (won by technical fall). It was a lot different this time,” said Steven Fernandez, who celebrated his 18th birthday Wednesday. “At the end of the third, I was thinking, ‘It’s Senior Night, and we’re wrestling for a league championship. The team captain can’t lose.'”
Danny Robinson’s win by technical fall, 17-2, against Carlos Farreyda at 162 pounds pushed the Acorns ahead 36-12 with four matches remaining. Erik Lopez (173) of the Comets defeated Tyler Geer 3-2, but the minor decision — good for three team points — clinched the win for Live Oak.
“You got to hand it to them,” Comets coach Ray Jimenez said. “They’ve come a long way.”
It was a big start to a huge week for the Acorns, who will host the 24-team Blossom Valley Athletic League Finals tournament Saturday. The top five finishers in each weight class advance to next week’s CCS Championships.
“This week is just too much,” Fernandez said. “But this is what high school sports are all about.”
The Acorns received early pins by Clayton Howard (114) and Matt Dariano (127) over Josafath Pelayo and Ton On.
Live Oak’s Derek Peralta put Eduardo Alvarez to his back at 191 pounds, and, after heavyweight Erik Poulsen pinned Lick’s Nicholas Silva in the first round of the final match, the Acorns finally celebrated.
Bulldogs end duals with forfeit
Sobrato’s seniors were honored with a free pass Wednesday. The Bulldogs were set to host Lincoln on Senior Night in the Sobrato Main Gym, but the Lions had to forfeit because of a skin disease that decimated their lineup.
With the forfeit, the Bulldogs finished 3-3 in Santa Teresa Division duals.
