Oak Hill’s Nicole Lemay has shown that gender is no handicap on the mat.
By Bob McPhee
Staff Writer

WALES – The Oak Hill senior may not look imposing, but it would be a mistake for opponents to think of Nicole Lemay as an easy victim.

Encased in that stature is a feisty competitor who is determined to set the record straight.

Lemay, whose record is 13-5 with three pins in the 112-pound division, has helped show that gender isn’t a factor on a wrestling mat.

“When I was a freshmen, I was thinking about continuing cheering,” Lemay said. “Then I realized that I didn’t have the same love for the sport as I used to, but I didn’t want to become out of shape, so a few friends that joined wrestling told me I would be tough, so I said why not. They thought I would never win a match, and they ended up quitting the team.”

Lemay went on to surprise her friends, but even she was uncertain of what she could accomplish. Now, she is even more focused on her craft.

“Nicole has inspired many Oak Hill girls to join and stick with wrestling.” Oak Hill coach Ric Swett said. “Deanna Rix gets much publicity due her National title, but Mainers need to know that Deanna isn’t the only girl wrestler with a shot at a State medal.”

Since females were granted the right to wrestle in the 1990s, there have been several success stories. Rix, a senior at Marshwood, won the United States Girls’ national crown last year and Jen Wormwood of Oxford Hills won titles in 2001 and 2002.

“I have a few set goals that I have been striving for since the end of last season,” Lemay said. “I think my first goal is to return to the finals at regional. I have to take it one day at a time and not get too ahead of myself.”

Lemay was a regional finalist as a freshman, but was second fiddle to Ian Venskus of Mountain Valley. Still, the Raiders wrestler made history as the first female to qualify for the Class B state meet.

Making it to the finals, as a freshmen, was a surprise to me,” Lemay said. “Going into regional, I hadn’t beaten many wrestlers. So I couldn’t say I was good, even though I was the first female in Class B to make it states.”

Lemay’s path back to the podium has been a long hard road. There have been countless sacrifices along the way – competing in tournaments last summer and attending a pair of camps. She believes these experiences have provided her with the competitive edge needed.

The rest of the Raiders team recognized this and voted her a tri-captain this season.

“Her workout partner (Joe Wysocki at 119) is what makes Nicole better,” Swett said. “They work extremely hard together. Nicole works as hard any wrestler could to improve.

“Her summer wrestling greatly improved her stamina and technique. It’s that kind of dedication to the sport that makes good winter wrestlers. Her moves are solid. In practice, she is perfect with her moves against fellow teammates. Yet, in a match, she pressures herself.”

Lemay admits that her repertoire lacked that take no prisoners mindset. If an opponent got rough during a match, she’d tend to back off. But, this season her reaction is to push back.

“I continue to wrestle even if I give up the first points,” Lemay said. “My attitude has improved beyond what I would have expected out of myself, I want to work hard, I want to get beat up out on the mat, and I want a challenge, win or lose.”

A major disappointment was losing to Brooks Dow of Erskine. Lemay had secured the initial takedown and earned near-fall points, but Dow rallied back. The pin was the first pin against Lemay since last season.

The pair are potential regional finalists.

“My next goal is one that may never come,” Lemay said. “But, I still want it more then a lot of guy wrestlers that I know and that is to place in the state championships. Right now I see myself as the fourth best in class B, but I could be wrong. It seems to be more then just metal to me this year. There is more competition then there was my freshmen year.”

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