By Hayden Swope
For Lily Hamel of Circle, the journey hasn’t been an easy one. Health challenges have made training difficult at times, but her passion for the sport and the support surrounding her have carried her forward.
“I haven’t exactly had the easiest road being a wrestler,” Hamel said. “I found a passion and a love for the sport from day one, but I have some chronic health issues that make it difficult to train sometimes. No matter how much I’ve struggled with my health, though, I have always had a village around me providing the love and support it takes to keep going. When I passed out in my final match at state, my coaches were the first ones by my side holding my hands and helping me up.”
That commitment has shaped Hamel’s goals heading into competition.
“This season I’m really focused on the specifics of my technique; speed, takedowns, setups,” Hamel said. “My goal is to score from every position I can whether I’m on offense or defense, and I’m working hard every day to ensure I reach that in every match. I’m aiming to place at state and regionals and break the records I set for myself last year.”
As she looks ahead, Hamel is eager to see how her identity as both an athlete and a leader develops.
“I’m so excited to see how my wrestling style grows and changes this year,” she said. “I always grow as a person and a leader as well as a wrestler and I can’t wait to see how that unfolds this season.”
