THE 2024 BEARCATHLETES

YOUNG DOM

Sebastian Radojevic

Senior Dominic Marquez approaches his car and grabs his bag. He enters the locker room and suits up for another day of wrestling practice, continuing to prepare for another weekly upcoming tournament.

“If I’m trying to lose weight, I’ll make sure to put on more clothes for practice so that I sweat more,” Marquez said. “Sometimes after practice if I need to cut I’ll go to the gym and stay in the sauna for a while then run a lot.”

Wrestling has been a major part of Marquez’s life ever since he was 6 years old, when he was living up North in Susanville, CA. He gained a passion for the sport through encouragement from his father and inspiration from Austin DeSanto, who is a three time all-state wrestler in Pennsylvania for Exeter High School. While Marquez is unsure whether he wants to continue to pursue his career in wrestling past highschool, he aspires to become the best wrestler of his abilities.

Marquez’s effort has clearly worked in his favor as he has placed and won many various tournaments. In highschool, Marquez has placed in at least twenty four different tournaments. “I’ve placed at every tournament besides state and one other one, those are the only two tournaments I haven’t placed in.”

Even since middle school, PRHS Wrestling Coach Nathaniel Ybarra also noticed Marquez’s extraordinary commitment and skill in the sport.

“ I could tell that he had a bright future ahead of him from the start, and he knew a good amount of moves and what it takes to be a champion.” Ybarra stated, “ He had a really good fireman’s carry that he would get kids in, he just had talent.”

When Marquez started his high school wrestling career his freshman year, he had made the Varsity team during COVID. Although COVID limited his ability to practice and meet with the team, Dom would still attend every team meet at Centennial Park because the wrestling room at the school was inaccessible. On top of that, he would condition at the gym to make sure to get down to the correct weight he needs to be. In Marquez’s first freshman tournament debut, he placed second.

Sophomore year, the wrestling team entered back into CIF and Marquez was ranked as a top 10 highschooler in the 115 lbs weight class. “We ended up winning CIF my sophomore year,” Marquez said, “So I took second place in the tournament.” During his sophomore year, Marquez began to become close friends with many of the senior wrestlers on the team.

“I became friends with a lot of the seniors on the team such as Peyton Kilbert, Treyvon Bridewell, and Ian Rodriguez.”

His junior year, his success in the sport continued as he qualified for the CIF state tournament. He continued to persevere and train throughout the school year and during the offseason to prepare for the tournament. However, Marquez placed in the top 24, which was lower than he was hoping for. Although he was semi-disappointed with his placement, he was able to beat the wrestler that was ranked 9th, which he claimed is his biggest accomplishment during that season.

Senior year, Marquez was able to place for State again, being ranked 20. He persevered to place better than last year, and he succeeded. As he made his way through the tournament he ended up placing as the twelfth best California high school wrestler. “The state tournament for wrestling, it’s just one division. There’s not all these other divisions, so when you are in the top 12 of the state, you are out of all the schools in California and there’s only 11 people above you. So that’s the difference with wrestling and a lot of other sports.” Ybarra explained.

One nod to Dominic’s success is that he is a very slick and quick wrestler. Although he may not be the biggest on the mat, he is the slickest and that gives him a major advantage.

“Those moves, they work for Dominic because he’s slick.” Ybarra stated, “So it takes a certain individual to hit the moves, which is good because I think everybody should try to aspire to be like a slick wrestler.”

Currently, Marquez has begun to take a leadership role in the wrestling room during practices. Ybarra claims, “During practice, Dominic would definitely show the kids a higher caliber of wrestling, he would hit those more complex on the newer wrestlers.” On top of that Marquez has been a model figure of what someone can accomplish with dedication and commitment. As he prepares to graduate in June, he is incredibly grateful for the program and the friends and memories he made through it.

DYER GOES D1

Quinn Kobayashi

A high school student by day, senior Nevaeh Dyer hides her talents, until she is presented with a practice, game, or meet where she transforms into a D1 performing athlete.

On one of these occasions, April 17, 2024, at a home track meet against San Luis Obispo High, the advisor of the shot put ring called out “Dyer, on deck”, and Dyer took in her last deep breaths before she entered the ring. She stepped into the ring, squatted down into place, with the shot put firmly against her neck and a high elbow, and began her spin movement to launch the ball. When the weight of the ball was released from her hand, the stress left with it as she saw the ball drop past the 40 feet mark.

When her mark was finally announced, she learned that she had obtained a new personal record with a distance of 42 ‘7”.

Dyer has found much success in throwing shot put for track and field and is also very talented in basketball, though she prefers throwing more because of the solitude of the sport.

“I would say I enjoy track over basketball since it’s an independent sport and I can just rely on myself,” Dyer said.

Dyer is still deciding between two colleges that have different offers for her. Cal State Northridge offered for her to play D1 in both track and basketball, and Concordia University Irvine has offered for her to play D2 in track.

Inspired by her dad to start playing basketball, Dyer began playing the sport in second grade with her elementary school team, Virginia Peterson.

She shared that a lot of coaches have helped her throughout her journey in the competitive sport, but especially Coach Hall, who has “pushed her to be able to do what she does today,” Dyer said.

She continued to play basketball with her elementary and middle school, Lewis, teams, as well as with YMCA and club teams until she started playing in high school. All four years in high school, Dyer made the varsity women’s basketball team.

This past 2023 season of basketball, Dyer averaged 10.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 0.7 steals per game, and her free throw percentage was 78%.

As the seasons shift, so does Dyer with her sports, and she begins to compete in shot put for track and field.

Deborah McPherson, Dyer’s throwing coach that has been supporting her the past three years, knew from the start that she had the potential to go far.

“We were in Arroyo Grande at her first track meet… and she threw around 28’ on her warm up throw. I challenged her, and I told her that if she hit 30 ”, I’d buy her lunch. Her first throw, she threw about 29’, and I mean, you could just see the potential she had,” McPherson said.

She started throwing shotput and discus for track and field her sophomore year. She quit softball after her freshman year, 2021 season, because she wanted to try something new. Thus, she started track and field her sophomore year to not only find a new passion, but to also complete her P.E. credits.

“I had been playing softball for a long time. I wanted to try something new and now I found another sport that I really love,” Dyer said.

Her sophomore year, she was throwing 29’, but with focus and hard work, she has increased her distance by over 10’. At the first meet of the 2024 track and field season, Bearcat Relays on Feb. 24, 2024, Dyer threw 36’ 7 ”. Nearing the end of the season, Dyer currently has a personal record of 42 ’ 7 ”, which she threw at the Paso Robles/San Luis Dual meet.

Dyer not only brings far distances to the throwing team, but also humor and a helpful personality.

“She’s really helpful. You can tell she knows what she’s doing, so if I was ever struggling with anything, she would help with my form. She’s a perfect balance of messing around and being funny, but she’s also there to improve and work hard,” said Sara Espinoza, one of Dyer’s teammates over the past season.

Dyer plans on either playing both track and basketball at Cal State Northridge or just track at Concordia University Irvine throughout the entirety of her college career. She is excited to meet people and find new groups to join regardless of where she commits.

“I feel as though she wants to do really well. She knows she has to put the work in, and I think there’s still another level that she hasn’t untapped,” McPherson said.

BEST TRACK PROTAGONIST: PEYTON BEDORSIAN

Kalani Gaviola

Senior Peyton Bedorsian is jumping off to San Diego State University this fall after a
successful four years as PRHS’ top pole vaulter in Track & Field.

Bedrosian began her athletic career as a gymnast from a very young age, but when her passion for the sport dried up, Bedrosian describes searching for something to do to keep active. Enter: pole vault.

She began pole vaulting in eighth grade, and continued throughout her high school career.

“Pole vault is a very difficult event as it pushes you both mentally and physically. Part of the
reason I love it so much is because of how rewarding it is when you are able to meet your
goals whether it is achieving a personal record or overcoming a mental block.”

Bedrosian’s current personal record is 12’9, and she is the school recorder holder for pole vault. This year she won both Mountain League championships and Division 1 Central Section championships. She is ranked top 10 in the state for pole vault.

When asked about her success, she thanked her coaches Jim and Codie Wilshusen for their support, as well as her parents and grandparents. “They’ve pushed me on my best and worst days,” she said. “I couldn’t have done it without their help.”

BEST FOOTBALL PROTAGONIST: CONNOR BOWMAN

Braydon Hoier

In the heart of Paso Robles, amidst the intensity of Friday night lights, one name echoed through War Memorial Stadium with each thundering touchdown – Conner Bowman.

He has played three years on Varsity football and Varsity basketball.

Bowman’s journey began like many young athletes’, with a passion for sports ingrained in
his DNA. Being that Bowmans dad played D1 track and his mother playing D1 volleyball. “I’ve been playing sports all my life, but in high school, I focused on basketball and football,” he said.

As a multifaceted athlete, Bowman showcased his versatility on both the hardwood and the
field. In basketball, he commanded the court as a small forward, averaging 10 points per game in his senior year. But it was on the football field where he truly shone, as a running back, averaging 83 yards per game, totalling 744 yards in his senior season.

Although Bowman highlights an accomplished basketball and football career, he will be hanging the cleats up after high school and moving on to college. He will be attending Cal Poly SLO next year and majoring in business.

BRONZE