Parker, Stillings win National Championships
Dreams are only farfetched if you never try to reach them. With every squat press, with every morning run, and with every sparring exercise, Pennridge wrestler Scott Parker pushes past what seemed realistically obtainable and conjures up bigger dreams.
Parker, who will be entering his junior year, went to bed with dreams of a high school state championship before he was ever in high school. While winning a gold medal still remains a high priority after his fourth SODFH finLVK ODVW ZLnWHU, 3DUNHU uVHG the summer to broaden his wrestling world.
“I have trained the same way I always have this summer and just worked really hard,” Parker said. “But I went to a four-day camp that showed me a lot more moves and got me more into Freestyle Wrestling.”
Parker picked up Freestyle Wres- WOLnJ DnG WKouJK LW ZDV WKH fiUVW WLPH he seriously competed in the unique format, his work ethic and quick feet flHZ KLP Wo WKH HOLWH OHYHO Ln PonWKV. In late July, Parker earned sponsorVKLSV DnG flHZ ouW Wo )DUJo, 1D ZKHUH was named the 106-pound Cadet National Freestyle Champion.
“7KLV LV WKH fiUVW yHDU , KDYH UHDOOy done it,” Parker said. “I practiced it in PLGGOH VFKooO, EuW WKLV LV WKH fiUVW yHDU I did a lot of tournaments. The periods go quick and you can end matches a lot faster. Conditioning can be factor toward the end, but I tried to get the PDWFKHV GonH Ln WKH fiUVW WZo SHULoGV and not worry about going the full six.”
5HPoYLnJ WKH EDFN DnG EoWWoP Sositions seen in the folk wrestling used in high school events only increased Parker’s dominance. It was not always easy as Parker’s win-loss record portrayed, and the accomplishment currently sits atop a lengthly list for an already accomplished wrestler.
“First out went to Bloomsburg for regionals and took third out there,” Parker said. “I expected the (level of competitionF to be high and it was just that. The hardest thing for me was just getting to the mental state where I EHOLHYHG , FouOG ZLn. 7KLV LV GHfinLWHOy at the top compared to everything else I have done.”
With the help of Pennridge’s asVLVWDnW FoDFK 5.3. 1oUOHy WKH HnWLUH wrestling program continues to head in the right direction. Not only has Norley stayed in contact with Parker during the offseason, the committed coach has turned his attention to the crop of young, promising wrestlers in the middle school ranks.
“, NHHS Ln WouFK ZLWK 5.3. FonVWDnWOy and he always wants to help me work out,” Parker said. “Our coaches are doing all they can to get us better and it seems more and more kids are getting into it.”
In the middle school ranks young wrestlers such as Matt Parker, Scott’s younger brother, and Josh Stillings have succeeded at a various summer
tournaments. Matt Parker ventured out to Indianapolis, IN to compete in the Schoolboy National Dual Team. Stillings stole the show in Orem, rT and grabbed the hid’s National Freestyle championship in the 11-and12 year old division.
“rtah was really fun,” Stillings said. “First we went to a camp for four days, and then we took a bus ride out to rtah which was about 17 hours. We stopped in Iowa and saw the wrestling room. In rtah we had two days to make weight. All of the kids in my bracket were pretty good.”
Stillings has won six National Championships since the age of 10 and with faces like Scott Parker to look up to, the eighth grader understands the dedication it takes to make dreams come true. Stillings’ dreams include one day participating in the Olympics, which he currently is glued to on television.
“I know in the Olympics there is no folk style, it is all freestyle wrestling,” Stillings said. “So I wanted to try it.”
And anybody who knows the time and effort Stillings puts into his craft also realizes representing the r.S. in the Olympic Games one day is anything but a farfetched dream.