Hilla Wetherill is a sophomore épée fencer from Helsinki, Finland, studying to earn her B.A. in English literature and art history with a minor in Russian and East European studies. A member of Team Finland with appearances on the national stage, she brings international experience and a competitive mindset to Lafayette's Fencing Program.

Unconventionally, she was introduced to the sport at a young age. Wetherill remembers seeing an advertisement for a movie about fencing and became interested. Her abilities later grew into a passion at just eleven years old, eventually bringing her to Easton. 

Before arriving on College Hill, she trained in Finland at a specialized sports high school, Mäkelänrinne Upper Secondary School, which is connected to Olympic training facilities and offers a flexible structure that allows students to spread their coursework over a longer period while dedicating more time to competitive sports.

Away from the strip, family remains an important part of her journey. As the oldest sibling with two younger brothers, Hilla is a natural leader. She serves as team captain for Lafayette Fencing, and also holds a leadership position within her sorority, Pi Beta Phi PA Eta Chapter. 

On the Piste

Why did you choose épée instead of foil or saber? 

That's the main type of fencing done in Finland, and there are more clubs, better coaches, and better resources for it there. That's why I chose that.

The weapons are slightly different and there are different rules. In épée, the whole body is the target. You can have double touches or single touches. In the other weapons, you can only have single touches and you need right of way to get a touch, and you only have specific areas that are the target.

What is the hardest part about competing in épée?

The hardest part is that there is no right of way. In foil and saber, the people that are good remain very dominant in the sport. In épée, anything can really happen.Sometimes even a professional can lose to someone that's a beginner because any part of the body is a target.

How do you get in the right mindset before a big match?

I struggled with nerves for a long time in competing, but that's gone away with more competition experience and time. I like to take a couple deep breaths before I start and try to tune everything else out so I'm focused on the bout that I'm fencing and not thinking about anything else.

Do you have a favorite opponent or a rival you look forward to competing against?
I like fencing against any of the harder schools like the Ivy League teams, Duke, UNC, and Johns Hopkins. I like the challenge.
I like going in without any pressure because we are the underdogs in those bouts. It always feels really good to do well against a hard opponent.

Is there a match or tournament you're most proud of?
UPenn Invitational, the Mechanic Invitational. That's always our hardest meet of the year.I usually do pretty well there. I'm always very happy with my results there.

How do you bounce back from a tough loss or setback?
You just have to move past it. I'll be upset about it for a while and then you forget about it and move on. It doesn't help to stay focused on it.

It's good to think about what went wrong, why you lost, what mistakes you made, and how you're going to improve on those. In fencing, it's good to do that even during a competition day.

What is something you wish people knew more about fencing?
I wish people were more aware of it in general. It's a very low-key sport. I also wish people wouldn't associate it with Star Wars.

Coaching & Mentorship

Where does your name come from?
It's a berry that grows in the Nordic countries. It's like a yellow raspberry that's very sour. My parents named me that because when my mom was pregnant with me, they went hiking on a trail in northern Finland called the Hilla Trail.

Who has been your biggest influence?
Any of the coaches that I've worked with. I always learn a lot from them. I've worked with multiple coaches over my fencing career. Any sport would be impossible without a coach.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a college athlete?
Perseverance is a huge thing. Always going to practice, always putting in the extra work and sticking with it is the most important part of sports.

On College Hill

What does a typical day look like for you as a student-athlete?
I wake up around 5 or 5:15 and I drive to practice. I'm there for two hours depending on the day. Sometimes we lift right after practice if it's Monday or Wednesday. If we don't, I'll go straight to breakfast from practice.

If we do have a lift, then I go straight to breakfast after. Then I go back to my dorm, shower, and go to classes. Once classes are done, I'll hang out with some of my friends. I'm in a sorority, so I hang out with some of my sorority sisters or do some homework. Usually when we have 6 a.m. practice, I try to be in bed by around 8 p.m.

Do you have a favorite place to study on campus?
During finals week in December, I got really into the silent library in Kirby. 

Do you have a favorite Lafayette tradition or event?
I really liked the Lafayette vs Lehigh game. I'd never been to a football game before because that's not really a sport we have in Finland. It was cool to see how excited everyone gets about it.

When you're not fencing or studying, how do you spend your free time?
I like to read. I hang out with people on the team a lot, a lot of the other sophomores.
I'm also in Pi Beta Phi here, so I do sorority stuff with them. That's pretty much it.



Across the Water
 
What was it like representing Team Finland?
It's always fun to go to big competitions. Finland is a small country and a small fencing country, so you go to these competitions knowing there are other countries that are very strong in fencing like Italy, France, and Hungary. It's nice to go to these big competitions as a team and support each other and cheer each other on.

Being able to represent your country is an amazing opportunity. Getting to go to the European Championships is extraordinary. I'm very proud to have been able to do that multiple times.


2024 European Championships in Naples, Italy; Photo by Team Bizzi

How was the transition from Finland to Lafayette?
Coming to Lafayette and being on campus was very different. I'm from Helsinki, which is a city, so I'm used to roaming around and doing whatever I want. It was an adjustment being on a small campus in a small town where it's harder to go places.


Hilla dog Miso at home in Finland.

Are there any traditions from home you miss?
I miss cooking for myself. I enjoy going to the grocery store and cooking and trying new foods and recipes and I miss Finland's Independence Day when I'm here at school.

Beyond the Strip

If you could travel anywhere for a fencing tournament, where would you go?
Japan 

Outside of fencing, what do you enjoy doing?
I like to read. I like to go to the gym. In the summer, I like to cycle. My boyfriend is a triathlete, so he got me into long distance cycling. I like listening to audiobooks while going on long bike rides.

Did you play other sports or activities growing up?
I did a variety of things. I did diving for a while, but I started fencing at 11 and that became the main thing. I also always did a lot of art. I played the violin, so I always had a mix of stuff going on.

Do you have a favorite childhood memory?
My grandparents from the U.S. used to live in Annapolis, Maryland. On weekends my grandfather would take me into Washington, D.C. I'd ride on the carousel in the mall and we'd get SpongeBob ice cream from the ice cream carts.

What is a fun fact about you that most people don't know?
I know how to drive a stick. In Finland a lot of people still drive sticks, but it's less common here.

Do you have a favorite American food?
I like fried pickles.