Senior Cody Domingos Certainly Makes The Most Of his Four Years at PRHS by Embracing Every Opportunity
Casting a line and taking a deep breath, senior Cody Domingos relishes in the calm, cool air and smell of the lake, while enjoying a break from his robust schedule. He patiently waits for the feel of a bite as he sits on the boat in the middle of Lake Nacimiento. Filling his time with a mass of activities, this super senior has definitely made the most of his high school experience by not letting the ‘catch’ of any opportunity go by him.
Domingos has dominated the show ring with his sheep, winning 2020 California Mid-State Fair (CMSF) FFA Reserve Champion Market Lamb, 2021 Salinas Valley Fair Reserve Supreme Champion Market Lamb and the 2021 CMSF FFA Supreme Champion Sheep Showman, and hoping to win again at this years CMSF. As a freshman, Domingos first entered a new part of the agriculture world through his Welding I class, along with joining the Future Farmers of America (FFA) club, a nation-wide learning program with over 700,000 members. His interest began before his ninth grade year, growing up in an ag-centered family and surrounding himself with friends also a part of the industry. Beginning to show lambs through 4-H in fifth grade, Domingos joined FFA to continue this passion and has proven that hard work counts. All of it was earned as Domingos poured hundreds of hours into caring for his livestock in the months prior to showing with feeding, grooming, practice, and more.
Unfortunately, he had to scratch his lamb entry into the 2022 Salinas Valley Fair a week before showing due to an injury in his project.
“Unfortunately, that’s one of the risks you take when you decide to show livestock. You know that there’s a possibility of them not being able to compete and you losing all of the money you put into it, and you hope it never happens. But if it does, then you just have to try and rebound back from it.”
Along with raising livestock, Domingos started his pathway in Welding his freshman year under advisor Justin Pickard,, completing all four levels. Through both selling livestock and auctioning off welding projects, Domingos earned enough hours and money to qualify for the FFA State Degree. This award is only given to about 1900 students in the state each year, requiring 500 hours in their Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) project, invest over $1000 into that project, put in 25 hours of community service, and demonstrate leadership abilities. He is now on the way to earning his FFA American Degree, which can only be achieved a year after graduation and requires earning over $10,000 in SAE projects, 50 hours of community service, and more.
Make lots of friendships. Make good with your teachers, do your homework and enjoy your time. Don’t waste a single second of it because every second that you waste, you’ll never get back
Welding CTE teacher Justin Pickard has had Cody as a student since 2018, aiding him in earning his degrees and being a mentor in regards to welding.
“The way that he prioritizes his goals and works to excel in so many areas of his life is something remarkable to see in a young adult like Cody. He balances his commitments and stays focused on succeeding in school, work, welding, showing animals, fishing, and being a positive member of his family,” Pickard said.
Domingos also competed in SkillsUSA , demonstrating the skills he learned in welding to real-world applications through his four years. In 2019, he earned Bronze in the state for Oxy-Acetylene Welding, 2020 Region 2 Gold Medal for Shielded Metal Arc Welding, and in 2021 Region 2 Gold Medal for the category of Welding.
To change up the scenery from the heat of the shop and the smells of a farm, Domingos also led as PRHS water polo captain and top two scorer, and swim team, throughout high school. Brought up to varsity his sophomore year for polo, Domingos says he will remember it as one of the best parts of his high school experience.
“It was one of those things where you would dread going to school all day, and then you’re like, Oh, sweet. I get to go to practice after this and hang out with all my best friends.
He ended his career in the water as one of the top scorers on the team, with 85 goals, 43 assists and 47 steals. He was elected captain of the team for his senior year, and earned the Lions Club Sportsmanship Award.
HIs passions for the water flow also into his well-known fishing reputation. Recently, Cody and his lifelong friend Kyle Goldstein competed in a state-level bass fishing tournament at Delta, taking 4th place out of 47 teams. Since they were within the top 10% of teams, they qualified for the National tournament that will take place in Pickwick, Alabama in late June. Domingos has been fishing for “all of his life,” starting with his dad and eventually finding the love for it to truly pursue competitions and learn more about it. Currently, he works at Jim’s Pro Bass & Tackle, giving him an inside opportunity to learn more about bass fishing.
Through all of the work he has put in, tournaments won, and talent shown, Domingos received the opportunity to attend the University of Tennessee on a scholarship for the bass fishing team. He plans on earning a degree in Agriculture Business, and making the most out of every opportunity that comes his way in the future like he has these last four years.
