Falcon wrestlers open with big win

The Scotts Valley High wrestling team started the regular season with a bang, squeaking by a solid Soquel High squad 42-37 on Jan. 19.
With the win, the Falcons start with a perfect record in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League as the league dual meets get under way.
Soquel gave up critical forfeits in four weight classes, but despite being undermanned, the Knights showed up ready for battle.
The Falcons, however, got big wins in a number of weight classes won by decision. And Conor McDermott (135 pounds), Casey Sparkman (140), Baldan Dashiev (171) and Hunter Black (189) earned their teams critical points with individual pins.
Scotts Valley head coach Jared Norman knew it would be crucial for the Falcons as a team to be opportunistic and perform well.
“We came out hard tonight,” Norman said. “Our guys were on their game and got us points when we needed them. I don’t know how easy the rest of the league will be — there are a lot of really tough wrestlers in the county this year. We can’t be comfortable thinking that this thing will be easy.”
Soquel is 0-1, and the Falcons move into the rest of league tied with Aptos and Santa Cruz High for first place at 1-0.
Scotts Valley continued its SCCAL dual meet schedule at Santa Cruz High after press time Thursday, Jan. 27.