Senior Lucy Hicks has been the only girl on the wrestling team for the past two years. Hicks began her wrestling career three years ago and has become a valuable member of the team. She has a reputation for her tenacious work ethic.
Q: How did you get into wrestling?
A: “One day, I heard about wrestling conditioning on the announcements and just decided that day to go in there and see what was up. I just kept coming back and eventually fell in love with the sport and the community.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about wrestling?
A: “Winning, it’s because all of the hours spent conditioning, working, and cutting weight all amount to something. The feeling itself is just intoxicating, and that’s what I drive for, so I can keep feeling it. Winning helps me keep going and makes me feel complete and accomplished. Reaching my goals creates this sort of drive within me that makes me want to create and reach more.”
Q: Do you have any favorite wrestlers? If so, what about them do you like?
A: “Gabriel Crawford, not just because he’s my coach, but he has been someone I was able to look up to and strive to be like. He has taught me literally everything I know about wrestling and made me realize that if I truly worked hard, I could accomplish whatever I wanted. He really believed in me when I couldn’t even believe in myself, and that has always stuck with me. Another one would be Amit Elor because she is an incredible wrestler, but is also easy for me to relate to. She’s very compassionate and inspiring for many women who want to wrestle.”
Q: Do you plan on wrestling after high school?
A: “I wish I could, but I don’t think I’m on the level that I need to be to be that successful. I will still wrestle somewhere, though. I’m not sure where that place might be, but I’ll find it because my passion for this sport will just not die. I hope I will never stop wrestling until I am physically unable, I enjoy it too much.”
Q: Do you think being the only girl on the team has helped or hurt your wrestling career?
A: “I believe it has done a little bit of both. It has helped because I was able to become tougher mentally and physically, because I needed to be able to keep up with the others. It’s tough not being able to wrestle as many girls as I would like and not being able to relate to the guys on my team as much as I would like to. I would have liked more girls on the team so I could feel like I belonged a little more. The guys on the team are awesome, though, and know how to make boring tournaments and hard practices fun.”
Q: What advice would you give to girls who want to join male-dominated sports? (wrestling, football, etc.)
A: “Just do it! You only have one life, so just do whatever you wanna do. Don’t be scared of being judged because it’s not your problem to worry about what others think of you. Maybe you will find a true passion in even just trying something new, so why waste that opportunity? Don’t ever think you can’t do something you haven’t tried, god knows I surprised myself when I started wrestling.”
For more information about the wrestling team, please visit the wrestling coach, Gabriel Crawford, in room 226.
