When a wrestler takes the mat they are expected to exhibit a certain warrior like composure that is normally reserved for the boys of our era. The problem for many wrestlers in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League is that the girls from Scotts Valley keep beating them.
The Scotts Valley High School wrestling team has fielded the first complete eight woman girls wrestling team in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League history, according to Coach Jared Norman.
Junior Shelby Baker and freshman Domino Parrish are leaders on the Falcon team that continues to wrestle well in the male-dominated sport.
“I think it is great to have this many girls out here.” Baker said. “It is comforting to have girls you can talk and relate to after a match.”
The Falcon girls are making a name for themselves as they finished strong at the “Queen of the Mat” tournament at Pittsburgh High School in Pittsburgh, Calif. on January 7.
Parrish and teammate Alicia Pitts took second at the meet and Addy Johnson and Baker took home fourth place finishes.
The girls face both male and female competition throughout the regular SCCAL season. They will also compete in a separate Central Coast Section tournament, state tournament and national tournament held for the girls at the end of the season.
“I really think it’s a blessing to have this many girls around,” Parrish, a freshman for the Falcons said. “We are always learning from each other and encouraging each other as we fight our way through this.”
Parrish won the middle school championships as an eighth grader last year by beating all the boys in her weight class last season.
“I think it’s a great thing for them and for us,” said Norman. “It is a really cool thing that this many girls want to be a part of the wrestling scene here at Scotts Valley.”
The Falcons finished second in league standings last season and are on track to finish high in the rankings again as they cruised to a 15-6 victory over Santa Cruz High on Jan. 10. The Falcons next duel meet is against Harbor High on Jan. 17 at 4:30 p.m. at Harbor.
