Scotts Valley wrestlers take fourth at CCS

Three members of the Scotts Valley’s girls wrestling team are headed to the state meet after a successful showing at the Central Coast Section finals tournament last weekend. During the two day meet — held Feb. 3 and 4 at Oak Grove-San Jose — Shelby Baker, Domino Parrish and Alicia Pitts each advanced to the state showdown in Lemoore, Calif. on Feb. 23.
The entire team made a strong showing leading the other 38 schools after the first day of wrestling and finished the event in fourth place overall.
“I could not be more proud of these girls,” said Falcon Head Coach Jared Norman. “They came together under some of the direst circumstances and really had a great day of wrestling.”
Baker finished the meet as the best overall wrestler for the team. She took second place in the 126 pound weight class. After a first round bye, Baker neatly pinned her next two opponents before falling in the finals by pin. Baker was seeded second and will return to the state finals for the second year in a row.
“The nerves aren’t there yet,” Baker said this week. “I am always way more excited than nervous up until I take the mat.”
Domino Parrish, a freshman phenom, earned a third place finish in the 114 pound weight class with a second round pin over Live Oak High School’s Isabella Fernandez at 3:19.
Parrish finished the meet with three pins and a 19-2 tech fall.
Teammate Alicia Pitts earned a 3-2 record at the event which proved good enough for fourth place overall. Pitts pinned one opponent and won by decision on two of her matches.
“We are all feeling lucky to have such a great coach and teacher,” Baker said. “Just the fact that we got this far is really because of (Norman).”
The Falcon wrestlers wrapped up a second place finish in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League behind Aptos. This is the second year in a row that the team has earned the position.
The boys will be wrestling in their own CCS tournament Feb. 24 and 25 at Independence High in San Jose.