By Jondi Gumz
Dominique Parrish, who was introduced to wrestling in her hometown of Scotts Valley, will represent Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Parrish, 27, qualified on April 20 to represent the U.S. in women’s wrestling at 53 kg.
At the 2024 Olympic Team Trials at Penn State, Parrish defeated Haley Augello, 29, of Lockport, Illinois, who competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics, avoiding takedowns and winning both matches.
“It feels really, really good,” Parrish said. “This is what I’ve been working for, for so long.”
Her sister and her boyfriend were on hand to see her qualify.
Last November, she wanted a change and switched her training to Oregon to work with Nate Engel, a two-time U.S. National Team member, who she said ”is always down to wrestle.”
One inspiration: Helen Maroulis, who won gold in wrestling in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Maroulis, like Parrish, is a graduate of Simon Fraser University.
The Paris Olympics start Friday, July 26, and close Sunday, Aug. 11.
Parrish went to the Toyoko Olympics as a member of the training team, but this will be her first chance to compete at the Olympics.
She’s had a stellar career, winning a gold medal in the 2022 Senior World Championships, winning gold at the Pan American Championships, and champion at the U.S. Open.
As a student at Scotts Valley High School, where her father, Mike Parrish, was her coach, she was twice California high school state champion.
At Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada, she was Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association’s national champion twice and a four-time All-American.
And it all started when she was signed up in sixth grade for a wrestling demonstration.
Next, her photo could be on a poster.
Photo Credit: John Sachs Tech/Fall