A pair of Scotts Valley teens recently took their wrestling prowess to the national stage at the USA Wrestling ASICS/Vaughan Cadet and Junior Nationals tournament in Fargo, N.D.
Domino Parrish, an incoming senior at Scotts Valley High School, went a combined 7-0 in Fargo to place first in the Junior Women’s Freestyle event between July 21 and 23.
Her first-place performance capped off Parrish’s incredible season by clinching the coveted triple crown of wrestling — a state championship, and a national championship in both folkstyle and freestyle wrestling.
“It’s the most coveted award in high school wrestling,” said Mike Parrish, Domino’s father and coach. “She’s one of four girls nationwide that have won triple crowns.”
Domino’s championship not only garnered her some long looks from college recruiters, her father said, but also meant an invitation to join the U.S. National Wrestling Team and compete internationally.
Although Parrish said that his daughter is focused on her senior year of high school, the sky is the limit for her wrestling career — possibly even the Olympics.
At the same tournament in Fargo, Christian Rebottaro, a Scotts Valley resident and incoming junior at Monte Vista High School, placed 5th in the Cadet National Freestyle championships and was named an All-American.
“He’s a one-in-a-million kind of athlete,” said Steve Rebottaro, Christian’s father. “(Wrestling is) a highly, highly competitive sport on the male side — especially in the Midwest — he very easily could’ve won.”
Christian, 16, who also plays football and trains as a powerlifter, said that he was invited to Fargo after he took first place at the California State Freestyle Tournament in April.
Since then, Christian said, he trained with instructors Ian Bork and Fred Cortez, as well as Stanford University wrestler Nathan Butler — who had competed at the freestyle nationals in 2013 and was able to provide him with insight.
“That was a really unique situation,” said Steve Rebottaro.
Christian said that his powerlifting training has gone a long way to prepare him, not only for wrestling, but for football — his real passion.
“I’d love to play college football,” said Christian Rebottaro, who is set to play defensive nose guard and offensive right guard for Monte Vista’s upcoming football season.
Steve Rebottaro said that he was very proud of his son’s achievements, particularly as he moves from the cadet age group to the junior age group — already nationally ranked.
“He’s super dedicated,” said Steve Rebottaro. “You’ve got to be fully committed to compete at this level.”
