CAMDEN — The life of a wrestler is not easy. Making weight, working out constantly to stay in shape, only to take to the mat and try and end the match as quickly as possible — and make all that hard work worthwhile. 

In Maine, the sport of wrestling is dominated by boys. Some teams will have one or two girls, and some of them are pretty good.

And then there is Camden Hills Regional High School’s Hilary Merrifield.
 
Merrifield’s list of accolades is impressive. She is a hard worker, a wrestler’s wrestler. 

“Hilary is one of the most consistent and hard-working wrestlers ever to go through the program,” said Camden Hills Wrestling Coach Patrick Kelly. “She has missed one practice in three years. She has placed third in the state as a 106-pound junior. She has a never-give-up attitude on the mat and is every coach’s dream — and every opponent's nightmare.”

High praise for a 106-pound girl in a boy-dominated sport. If you don’t believe Coach Kelly, ask some of her opponents what it’s like to try and win when you are wrestling Merrifield. 

During her sophomore year she took third place at the annual Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference and she won the Eastern Class B Regionals.

This past year, as a junior, Merrifield placed second at the Eastern Class B Regionals and third at Class B states. She also won the Maine Girls State Tournament, which was new this year.
 
“Winning regionals my sophomore year is my most meaningful accomplishment since it was the first big tournament that I've won, but placing third at states is definitely a close second,” said Merrifield. “Both of these accomplishments are meaningful because of how much work I put into achieving them, and then seeing that work pay off.”

Recently, wrestling took Merrifield to Fargo, North Dakota, to wrestle in an all-girls tournament featuring the best high school female wrestlers around the country. Three girls from Maine went: Merrifield, Rayanne Leach, a student at Medomak Valley High School in Waldoboro, and Sophia Carson, at student Penobscot Valley High School in Howland.

“I’ve wrestled Rayanne a bunch of times throughout the years, but recently we have not been in the same weight class,” said Merrifield.

Camden Hills does not wrestle against Penobscot Valley High School. 

While in Fargo, Merrifield observed excellent female wrestlers, including someone she looks up to as she tries to reach her pinnacle in the sport.

“Fargo was an amazing experience.” said Merrifield. “It was so cool to see that many wrestlers, and girl wrestlers, all in one place. Also, I was able to get to know some of the other Maine wrestlers who I didn't know very well prior to the trip. My number-one memory is watching Ronna Heaton wrestle and win the championship. She's a high school wrestler from South Dakota who I really look up to, so it was awesome to actually be there watching her.”

This all started back when Merrifield was going into the seventh grade at Camden-Rockport Middle School. 

“I started wrestling when I was 12,” said Merrifield. “My brother, Eben, who was in fifth grade at the time was joining the team and I just decided that if he could do it then I could, too.”

“Hillary has a drive that is awesome to see; she wants to train hard and win,” said Kelly.

“I haven't been all that surprised at the success I've had with wrestling because I put all that I can into it,” said Merrifield. “And that's really what it takes to do well.”

“She has already left her legacy as one of the profile wrestlers for this program and she has one more shot at a state title,” said Kelly.

For Merrifield, wrestling boys is just another day on the mat where she does everything in her power to win. That’s why she wrestles. 

“Wrestling against boys really isn't any different from wrestling girls.” said Merrifield. “Especially competing in Fargo at the national level, wrestling only girls there is just as challenging as wrestling boys. The only difference noticeable to me is that sometimes girls are more flexible, which can make some moves more difficult. Other than that though there's no difference. A wrestler is a wrestler.”

Last year, Merrifield wrestled at 113 for the first half of the season. She then dropped back to the 106 pounds, which is the weight she is hoping to wrestle in this upcoming season. 

Merrifield, who spent this past week looking at colleges would like to continue wrestling after high school, understands that may not be possible as there are few colleges with women’s wrestling teams. 

“Though I do want to, I'm not entirely sure yet about wrestling in college, mostly because there are little to no colleges with girls wrestling teams in the Northeast, which is where I'm planning on staying,” she said. “Though it's much more difficult for girls to be successful against boys at the college level, I'm definitely going to try to make something work so that I don't stop wrestling entirely.”

Merrifield’s also a quality player on the Windjammer softball team where she is a pitcher as well as the field hockey team making her a three-sport athlete. 

Watching Merrifield on the field or on the mat, the first thing you notice about her is the focus. You can see determination on her face. She wants to be successful; she understands what it takes and is not afraid to put the work in to get what she wants. What she wants right now is a state championship. With that as a focus I feel sorry for any other wrestlers weighing in at 106 pounds this coming season. You are in for the battle of your life. 

Ron Hawkes can be reached at sports@penbaypilot.com