High School Sports:
By Brian Reed-Baiotto
Cole Parra is the gold standard for what a student-athlete can and should be.
Parra is an outstanding football player and wrestler.
But the 18-year-old Bonita High School senior is an even better student and human.
This coming fall, Parra will take his 4.6 weighted GPA and football cleats to Pomona Pitzer to continue his athletic and academic careers.
Parra has been called a ‘player-coach’ and a ‘genius’ by his coaches and teammates.
Since his sophomore year, CP5 has been the starting linebacker and running back for BHS co-head coaches, Steve Bogan and Bo Beatty.
Over that stretch, the Bearcats have gone 26-8 overall, 8-3 in league and 2-2 in the CIF-SS playoffs.
To steal a song title from Vanessa Williams, Parra ‘saved the best for last.’
This past fall, BHS won its first 11 games for the first time since 1999.
That included a 5-0 run to a Sierra League championship.
Bonita defeated league opponents Charter Oak, Glendora, Los Osos, Claremont and Colony by a combined margin of 169-68.
The regular season’s shining moment had to be the 49-21 Sierra League beatdown they handed Charter Oak in a week-nine showdown in Covina.
After finishing out their slate at 10-0, most thought that Bonita would get a home game to open the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs.
The new playoff formula has been known to display severe flaws from time to time, and this year was no different.
Instead of getting that first-round home game, the 10-0 Bearcats had to travel to Los Angeles to battle 9-1 Cathedral.
BHS didn’t whine.
They prepared their asses off all week, traveled to the Phantoms’ campus near Dodger Stadium, and they handed the Angelus League champs a 35-20 season-ending loss in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score.
Cathedral scored on the last play of the game trailing, 35-13.
The following week, the eventual CIF-SS D-3 champs from Edison ended Bonita’s record season with a 24-0 victory in La Verne.
The Chargers also went on to claim a CIF State Division 1A title, and they finished as the No. 15th ranked program in the state.
Parra played a huge role in an historic run for the program.
And he did so on both sides of the ball.
Offensively, he carried the ball 37 times for 218 yards and four TDs.
He also caught 16 passes for 237 yards and two scores.
Parra was second in rushing yards to Joseph Lara (858) and third in rushing TDs to Lara (6) and Noah Mikhail (5).
On defense Parra’s 70 tackles was second to Texas A&M’s incoming freshman, Noah Mikhail.
In each of his three seasons in La Verne, Parra finished second to Mikhail in tackles.
Parra had 47 tackles in 2022 and 80 tackles in 2023, which tied him with Dominic Avelar both years.
For his career, Parra tallied 197 tackles, including 10 for-loss.
He had one sack, two interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
What made him so special and vital on the field was a combination of Cole’s durability, versatility, God-given skills and his off-the-chart intellect and football IQ.
There are stories from both his coaches and teammates in which Bonita players have often times forgotten where they’re supposed to be, and they’ll look to Parra for directions.
One of his favorite accomplishments from his three years with Bogan and Beatty was the three victories over San Dimas in the Smudge Pot rivalry game.
BHS defeated SDHS in 2022, 2023 and 2024 by a combined margin of 96-20.
Steve Bogan has a 6-0 head-to-head record with San Dimas coach, Mark Holman.
I asked Bogan if there was a particular game in 2024 that Parra most stood out.
“When I think of a specific game with Cole, I think of our Charter Oak game this year,” Bogan said. “Cole had a rushing touchdown and a backbreaking receiving touchdown in which he took a screen pass and then ran for something like 70 yards and a TD. He also played almost every down on defense.”
Bonita finished the season as the 57th-ranked program in the state by MaxPreps.
That is up 99 spots from where they finished in 2023.
Of the 30 football programs within the 210 Prep Sports coverage zone, Bonita was second in wins (11), eighth in points scored per game (34) and second to Northview in points allowed (13).
Parra’s 70 tackles in 2024 put him at No. 40 among over 400 defensive players in the area.
What stats don’t and can’t measure is this kid’s selflessness, ability to play through pain and not giving a bleep if he got any of the credit for his program succeeding.
Most Friday nights, the first few names we in the media asked about were Noah Mikhail, Travis Lippert, Dylan Robinson, Joseph Lara and then Parra.
Cole was just happy to do his part and make lifelong friends.
But make no mistake about it, Cole Parra was a game changer.
That gets us to his wrestling career:
As mentioned, Parra’s had some injuries, which cost him a significant amount of time off the mat during his sophomore and senior campaigns.
In the two years that he was relatively healthy, however, Parra won individual Palomares League championships during his freshman and junior seasons.
He actually had to beg his mom and dad to allow him to wrestle the four matches he did in 2024-25.
Parra went 4-0 with three pins, and they came in record time.
Afterwards, though, he finally had the surgery to repair his shoulder.
And I am happy to report that the surgery was successful, and that Cole Parra will be ready for the Pomona Pitzer training camp after he walks off the Bonita campus this spring.
For his wrestling career, Parra went 66-19.
Of those 66 wins, 38 came via pin fall.
That comes out to a 58-percent clip.
Parra had his most impressive season in 2023-24.
He went 30-9 with 22 pins.
That included an individual Palomares League title and a sixth-place finish at the CIF-SS Individuals.
Parra was also part of two Palomares League team championships under the tutelage of Coach Rob Froh and his staff.
What made that so special was Bonita hadn’t won a wrestling league title since the beginning of Ronald Reagan’s second term (1985) as President of the United States.
Parra credited Rob Froh, his staff and he said Coach Brian Sandmark has been instrumental in his success on the mat.
Who does the credit go to for Parra’s Success?
It all starts with his parents, Angela and Lou Parra.
His parents have been great role models, and his father was a decorated athlete in his own right.
Mr. Parra was a star linebacker, and he won championships at Los Altos High School, Mt. SAC and the University of La Verne.
Lou Parra even coached a little at ULV.
Cole and his father both earned all-Sierra League status on offense and defense in their respective senior seasons.
Mrs. Parra has been incredibly supportive and helpful for the BHS football and wrestling programs.
His brother Zack also wrestled, and he played football with his cousin, Joe Parra, when Cole was a sophomore.
Parra said his favorite teacher is Mrs. (Beth) Oualline, who is one of this writer’s favorite people on this planet.
She dedicates so much of her time to make sure the students are taught well, and then after class, she’s at sporting events until late in the night taking photos and helping her student photographers not only gain experience, but getting their work published on this site.
“I love Mrs. Oualline,” he said about his AP English teacher. “She does so much for her students and the school. She is also a very cool person and someone that is fun to talk to.”
Parra intends to major in Data/Computer Science, and he wants to pursue a career as a data Scientist.
Lastly, I asked Parra to answer the following questions:
1) How has being part of the program bettered your life? 2) How special was that senior season? 3)How did Coach Bogan and Coach Beatty impact your career and life? 4) What would you want to tell your teammates about your time you spent with them? 5) How did your wrestling experiences and coaches impact your life? 6) What do you appreciate most about your mom and dad? 7) What do you hope your younger teammates remember about you?
Said Cole Parra:
1) “Being a part of the football program gave me a great group of friends and family with my coaches and teammates, while also being able to play the game I love. It bettered me mentally and physically, as a leader and as a player, and as a person.
2) Having this successful of a senior season was very special to me and my teammates, and it was a great way to end our high school careers. This team was successful because everyone played for the player next to them rather than themself, and we put in a lot of extra work outside of team activities. My role further than playing on both sides was being a leader and remaining strong and vocal through all setbacks.
3) Coach Beatty has been coaching me since I was 5 years old, and he’s had a huge influence on my life in hard work and treating people right. Coach Bogan has passed me many life lessons and wisdom as my coach, and he’s helped me become smarter as a person and as a football player.
4) I would like to thank my coaches and teammates for making high school sports a fun, good, and beneficial experience, and for always having my back.
5) This sport has changed me forever, and made me a far tougher, stronger, and better athlete and person. Coach Froh has been a good coach and leader who has lead us to our only two league titles in a long time, my sophomore and senior year. My youth wrestling coach, Coach Sandmark has been a huge mentor in my life and is a huge reason I am the wrestler and person I am today. I would also like to thank my youth basketball coach, Greg Smith, for teaching me to be coachable and making me a better athlete.
6) My mom, Angela Parra, is the most kind and supportive person I know. She always has my back while doing absolutely everything she can for me to make my life the best it could be. My dad, Lou Parra, has guided me through my entire life, always keeping me accountable in the gym, as an athlete, and as a person in general.
7) I hope my younger teammates remember me as a leader who did absolutely everything that he could to help his team and his teammates, and as a friend to everyone.”
To view a photo gallery by Beth Oualline of Cole Parra, click on the Facebook link here: Facebook
Quotable:
BHS principal, Kenny Ritchie: “Cole Parra is true leader on this campus, both inside the classroom, on the football team, and on the wrestling mat. He works hard and takes every opportunity to better his skills through being open and willing to take feedback and put it into action. He has inspired many of his fellow athletes to give everything they have to making the team better. His strength is not in his voice, but rather in his work ethic in practice and in games. Inside the classroom, he excels by taking numerous AP courses and challenges himself to be the best student he can be. Due to his work ethic in his academics and athletics, he will be very successful as he goes to Pomona Pitzer next year. We will miss his leadership on campus next year.”
BHS co-head football coach, Steve Bogan: “Cole Parra had three key attributes that made him extremely special and raised the overall play of the teams he played on. He was selfless, brilliant and a fierce competitor. What was unique about Cole Parra was that he understood football so well that he was literally a player-coach on the field. I actually had players tell me if they were needed on a certain offensive package of plays, and they could only do it if Cole was on the field at the same time, because he would know their assignment and he could signal it or use code language to tell or remind them of what to do. He was amazing and a perfect fit to play at one of the west coast Ivy League type schools known as Pomona College. I have no doubt that he will make over $200,000 his first year after graduating from there.
BHS football co-head coach, Bo Beatty: “Cole Parra may be the smartest kid I have ever coached. He was our ‘coach on the field.’ He was able to diagnose plays before the snap of the ball and tell the other players what was about to happen. He maintains about a 4.6 GPA and is driven in the classroom. Cole is freakishly strong in the weight room too, benching 305 pounds. He is 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds of pure muscle. That strength and girth allowed him to punish people as a ball carrier, blocker and tackler. I have known Cole since he was about 5 and I think of him as family. Even as a young kid, he was always more physical and tougher than his peers. I am proud to say I have watched him grow into a fine young man. He modeled what it is like to be unselfish to his teammates. He is a gentleman and nice kid to everyone on campus. I absolutely adore Cole Parra. He is everything right in high school sports today. I hope his younger teammates paid attention.”
BHS wrestling coach, Rob Froh: “Cole is the ultimate competitor. He is confident, athletic and very determined. He pushes his teammates, but also takes time to really work with them. He takes a lot of pride when he sees his teammates improving and using moves that they have worked on. Cole is honest and very insightful. We have had many conversations about strategies as we prepare for upcoming duals. I have been truly blessed to have him a part of our program. Here is a perfect example of his competitive nature. Earlier this season, Cole was nursing his shoulder injury.
We knew he had to have surgery, but he wanted to continue to help the team. He agreed to wrestle in our duals but to sit out of the tournaments until it was scheduled. In one of our duals, I was telling the team that it was time for them to step up and protect Cole as he has done for them for so long. I told them that and I wanted the dual to be wrapped up by his weight. I didn’t have to make the decision of whether to wrestle him, because he would do what he had to so that we would come out on top. The team responded and by the time we were coming up to his weight, I told Cole he could sit it out and we would wrestle someone else. He said, ‘no way, I’m wrestling,’ and then proceeded to get a pin in about 16 seconds.”
BHS football player, Noah Mikhail: “Cole was one of the smartest players I’ve played with. He’s got an edge when it comes to that aspect of the game. He’ll never give up no matter the situation. I respect how seriously he takes both school and football.”
BHS football player, Joseph Lara: “Cole Parra was the teammate that let everyone know what they were doing on defense and could spot what the offense was doing like Luke Kuechly, all of our guys in the box looked to him for help. Cole Parra is an insane athlete, had the highest bench press in the weight room and has flexibility like a gymnast. As well as insane balance. I admire how he took me under his wing during the season.
He never complained about anything even though he suffered a shoulder injury going into his junior season and he tore something in shoulder at the halfway point of this season. He waited until wrestling season to get surgery. Once he gets healthy, his freshman year is where he’ll really show his skill set. He meant everything to our success, as the leader of the defense and he often goes unappreciated behind the guys around him. He built a foundation for this year’s team through his 3 years starting on varsity and he overall was a guy that could play anywhere and played anywhere Coach Bogan asked him to play.”
BHS wrestler, Dylan Garcia: “Cole is a very hardworking and talented wrestler, and he always does extra to improve. While he is a humble athlete, he is definitely one of the most competitive on the team. As a teammate, he always wants us to succeed and does his best to help others. I respect Cole’s athleticism, for he is a crucial aspect in both sports he plays. Outside of wrestling, he is an enjoyable person to hang out with.”
BHS wrestler, Tristan Fernandez: “Cole was a great teammate and leader on and off the mat. He was always very kind and respectful and knew how to flip the switch on game days. He was always feared by his opponents, and he was a force to be reckoned with. I admire Cole’s can-do attitude. He never backs down from any challenge thrown at him. He has never given up and wrestled through many injuries and still kept going and never backed down.”
Cole Parra’s Career Football Stats:
Football:
2024:
Offense: 37 carries for 218 & 4 TDs; 16tches for 237 & 2 TDs
Defense: 70 tackles, 8 for-loss
2023:
Offense: 70-for-410 & 8 TDs; 9 catches for 82 & 1 TD
Defense: 80 tackles (tied 2nd w/Dominic Avelar) 2 for-loss
2022:
Offense: 75-for-376 & 4 TDs; 4 catches for 66
Defense: 47 tackles, 2 FL, 62 tackles (tied for 2nd w/Avelar), one sack, two INT
Totals:
Offense: 182 carries for 1,004 yards & 16 TDs; 29 receptions for 385 yards & 3 TDs
Defense: 197 tackles, 10 for-loss, one sack, two INT and three fumble recoveries
Bonita Football w/Cole Parra:
2024: 11-1, 5-0
2023: 9-3, 2-1
2022: 6-4, 1-2
Totals: 26-8 overall, 8-3 in league & 2-2 in CIF-SS playoffs
Smudge Pot Football Scores:
2024: Bonita 47, SDHS 7
2023: Bonita 28, SDHS 0
2022: Bonita 21, SDHS 13
Cole Parra’s Wrestling Career Stats:
2021-2022: 25-7, 11 pins, Palomares League champ & 7th in CIF-SS Individuals
2022-2023: 7-3, 2 pins (injured)
2023-2024: 30-9, 22 pins Palomares League champ & 6th in CIF
2024-2025: 4-0, 3 pins (injured)
Career: 66-19, 38 pins