Campbell County wrestling coach Mike Bankemper had no problem putting Priscilla Brownfield in the Camels’ starting lineup during the Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference Championships last weekend.
The 18-year-old senior won a wrestle-off in practice for the starting spot, and she proved it wasn’t a fluke by placing fourth in the 103-pound weight class at the conference tournament with a 4-2 record.
“Technically, she’s sound, “Bankemper said. “She’s more attentive than most of the guys are in practice. She knows her stuff.”
Last year, Brownfield became the first female to break into the varsity starting lineup in the history of the Campbell County wrestling program. She finished the regular season with a winning record, but she lost a wrestle-off in practice to teammate Cory Shotwell for a berth in the regional tournament.
Brownfield has been working hard not to let that happen again this year. If she makes it to the regional tournament and places among the top four in her weight class, she’ll set another precedent by becoming Northern Kentucky’s first female state qualifier in wrestling.
“My sophomore year I went down and watched (the state tournament) and I saw myself out there, “she said. “Ever since then I’ve been pushing as hard as I can to reach that goal.”
Brownfield started wrestling when she was in the seventh grade and came up through the Campbell County feeder program. She never had any qualms about participating in a highly physical contact sport against boys.
“It just feels natural to me and I love the competition, “she said. “It’s not just a sense of going out and beating boys. It’s the satisfaction of knowing I can win against another person.”
Last summer, Brownfield competed in a state wrestling tournament for girls. She won the 103-pound weight class and earned a berth in a national tournament.
But she prefers wrestling against boys in high school matches, and she’s off to a very successful start this season. She said her current record is 19-4.
“I do like wrestling against boys more because they go harder, “she said. “With girls, it’s kind of laid back and soft.”
Brownfield had to sit out her sophomore year because she dislocated her elbow so badly in a summer wrestling match against a boy.
But she came back to claim a spot in Campbell County’s starting lineup, and she’s not going to give it up.
“She’s a pioneer, “coach Bankemper said. “Some of the boys had a hard time handling that at first, but she stuck with it and earned her spot.
“When she injured her elbow some of the boys felt like, ‘She’s done now. She learned her lesson.’ But she came back and proved them wrong.”
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