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LOCK HAVEN - Lily Sherer is a senior at Lock Haven and a member of the women's wrestling program. She came to Lock Haven in 2021 and has been a key figure in one of the fastest-growing sports in the country.
As a veteran, Sherer has emerged into a leadership role on the team.
"Our team is doing a really good job at just staying focused and getting the task done at hand," Sherer said. "As one of the older women, seeing all these highly motivated underclassmen is pushing me to do better in that kind of leadership position."
Being from Pennsylvania, where wrestling has a deep history, wrestling has always been a big part of Sherer's life.
"I think for me, coming from Pennsylvania, where wrestling is so rich in its history, and being part of the forefront for women's wrestling, it was important to me coming into college to be a part of a program that was already good that could be even better. And we've done that here in Lock Haven."
The Bald Eagles currently sit with a 5-1 record during the 2024-25 season. Sherer has played a big role in that success, starting 14-3 on the year and a perfect 6-0 in dual meets. She has seven tech falls and five pins. Throughout her college career, Sherer has amassed a total of 70 wins entering this past weekend, putting her first in all-time wins in Lock Haven history.
"My career as a whole has been like a roller coaster, emotionally, physically, and mentally," Sherer noted. "Wrestling has been my entire life, and I don't think I'd be much of anything without it. My career has been a journey, but I credit all the ups and downs to the people I've surrounded myself with including my coaches and teammates."
Additionally, Sherer is a three-time qualifier for the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships and will look to qualify a fourth time in 2024-25. Sherer earned All-American honors in 2022-23 when she placed eighth.
In its first official season (2021-22), Lock Haven had a roster of nine which has since grown to 22. Women's wrestling has been one of the fastest-growing sports across the country at all levels including college and high school.
"I think the middle and high school programs are influencing the growth in college because those programs are at the lower level and getting added, allowing colleges to filter more girls that have been competing their entire lives," Sherer said. "We're at a point now where there are college girls who have wrestled for two years because there's a place for everyone in women's wrestling."
In the summer of 2024, Sherer was an intern with Young Guns Wrestling, a club that has been helping develop youth wrestlers for over 18 years.
"It was the best experience that I could have had for my internship in terms of learning from the absolute best and how to appreciate everything wrestling has to offer. I did a majority of everything. I was coaching, being a camp counselor, and a mentor for the girls. It was the most fun I've ever had, and I was able to meet some of the best people that are a part of my life."
Sherer has her own business, called Lil Customs and designs custom wrestling shoes for her fellow teammates and competitors. Sherer was inspired to start her business as wrestling is a male-dominated sport and designed her shoes to show who she is as a person.
"I realized a lot of girls find more of a safe space in the sport and it has been one of the most fun things that I've been able to do. It came from the fact that wrestling is seen as a masculine sport, it's consumed by the idea of toughness, just like every male characteristic. So, when I was in high school, I just decided that I wanted my shoes to embody me."