After successfully defending her 123-pound title at the 2019 Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association championships earlier this month, Simon Fraser University wrestler Dominique Parrish was named WCWA Athlete of the Year.
The honour is voted on by the 50-plus schools that competed at the national championships and is given to an athlete who has performed at a high level throughout the collegiate season.
“It is a huge honour and it feels great to be recognized as the WCWA wrestler of the year," said Parrish. "I have always looked up to the athletes who have won this award in the past and it is nice to be included with such good company.”
Parrish capped off her career for SFU in style, winning her second-straight national title and earning her fourth All-American recognition at the championships. Ever since she decided to trek north of the border to wrestle for the Clan in 2015, she has been a huge asset to the program. The California native led her team as one of its captains this season and was outstanding in her leadership on and off the mat.
The native of Scotts Valley, Cal. went undefeated against her opponents in her last two seasons with the Clan. In addition, she has had incredible performances on the world stage.
She was a under-23 world team member for Team USA at the 55-kilogram weight class in 2017 and again in 2018, where she finished fifth.
Regardless of who she is wrestling, Parrish's mindset always stays the same.
“I have to go out there and wrestle the same each match and try to focus on wrestling my best," Parrish explained. "100% is all I can ask for. I don't let the pressure of winning stop me from just wrestling."
Parrish is a health science major and hopes to pursue a career in physical or sports therapy.
As a Tokyo 2020 Olympic hopeful, Parrish is focused on her wrestling career now and has many things planned.
“My goal is to be wrestling at all of the U.S. nationals – the US Open, World Team Trials, and possibly the Pan-American championships," said Parrish. “With the end of my collegiate career, I now get to focus on what I need to do to achieve what I want to and I want to achieve these goals."
Parrish plans on continuing her training at SFU for the foreseeable future and she will continue to help the Clan as they prepare for the upcoming season. She is thankful to her family, coaches and teammates who have supported her through her journey with the sport, one that began in the sixth grade.
