Competing at the Division I level is impressive on its own, but not many student-athletes can say they have had the opportunity to compete for their country’s national team. Freshman Hilla Wetherill has done both.
Wetherill, an epee on the fencing team and member of the Finnish national fencing team, traveled to Barcelona, Spain, last weekend to compete in the International Fencing Federation Coupe du Monde. Wetherill competed in six bouts, winning one, but did not advance to the single elimination stage.
However, Wetherill says that she is pleased with her progression.
“I’m not as far from the level that I need to be at as I thought,” she said. “And it’s very doable for me to get wins at a big competition like that.”
Wetherill emphasized how her first competition in the senior division was a good learning experience.
“I got the sense of what the competitions are like in that division, and what level I need to be at to make the final day of the competitions,” she said.
Wetherill’s journey to becoming part of the Finnish national team began in 2022 after being invited to the U23 European Championships based on her performance in Finnish competitions. From there, Wetherill started competing in World Cups in the junior division on the U20 team. After recently aging out of the U20 team, she began competing in the senior competition.
Wetherill has encountered a few difficulties in the transition between Finland and Lafayette, including the long travel times between Lafayette and Europe and managing her education with fencing.
“It’s hard for me to get time off from school here,” Wetherill said. “I couldn’t get a dean’s excuse for this.”
Overall, however, Wetherill says that the transition has gone smoothly.
“It has been beneficial for me to be here because, especially in the meets, you get to fence against a large variety of opponents that fence differently,” she said.
Wetherill’s teammates have also recognized her success and how her experience contributes to the Lafayette fencing program, including freshman sabres Jordan Ginsberg and Nikita Kogan.
“She brings a good winning mindset to the team,” Ginsberg said. “She gives tips to the epee squad and helps come up with drills and stuff.”
Kogan added that Wetherill’s dedication and work ethic “empowers” the team.
Wetherill intends to keep improving on the international level.
“I would definitely like to make, maybe top 64, top 32 at a World Cup,” Wetherill said, “Or top 32 at the European Championships or something, and win some direct elimination bouts.”
The fencing team will compete in the NCAA Regional Championship on March 8. Wetherill also hopes to compete at the U23 European Championships at the end of April and the World University Games this summer in Germany.