She stood on top of the press box in the late afternoon, the cool air carrying a calm stillness over the empty football field. A blanket of clouds muted the light — soft, even, reflective.

In that moment, Cassidy Merkel could see it all: where she started, where she’s going, and everything in between.

“I think this year, I just want to keep building and growing,” she said. “I’ve come a long way, and I feel like there’s still so much more I can do — and not just in wrestling, but as a person, too.”

Merkel enters her senior season with Palmerton’s wrestling team more focused, more experienced — and more comfortable in her own skin.

A year ago, she wrestled exclusively at 124 pounds and finished with a 17-14 record. But her development has never been just about numbers.

“It’s not something that happens overnight,” she said. “It’s every practice, every match, every loss that teaches you something. I’ve had to learn to believe in myself and trust the work I’ve put in. And I think that’s what’s finally starting to show.”

That confidence has turned Merkel into a leader.

Now in her final season, she’s become someone others look to — and someone younger wrestlers can learn from.

“I’ve been really lucky to have people to look up to,” she said. “My brother (Josh) was a huge influence, obviously. But it wasn’t just him. There were other girls I got to wrestle with or be around, and I think all of them helped me get better — and also just more confident in myself. I hope I can be that person now for someone else.”

Merkel remembers the early days of wrestling — showing up nervous, unsure, a little intimidated by the pace of it all. The singlet never quite felt like it fit, and each match felt like a mountain to climb. But little by little, she found her footing.

“It’s weird to think about that now,” she said. “I used to get really nervous just walking into the gym. I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t always know what I was doing. But you figure it out. You keep showing up, and it gets easier. And one day, you realize you’re not that nervous kid anymore.”

Her brother Josh, a 2025 Palmerton graduate, was a standout in the sport — who placed fifth at districts a year ago and also competed at the national level in FBLA. He’s now in his first semester at Kutztown University after serving as vice president of his senior class and president of Palmerton’s FBLA chapter.

Their paths ran parallel for several years, with Cassidy watching, learning, and absorbing every bit of encouragement and advice.

“He taught me how to handle things,” she said. “Not just in wrestling, but how to stay calm, how to block out distractions, how to work through things and not get overwhelmed. That’s something I always admired about him, and something I’ve really tried to get better at.”

That same resilience — once modeled by Josh — now defines her own approach.

Cassidy proudly represents Palmerton for a girls wrestling program that has welcomed the sport under head coach Josh Rake. It’s a challenge she embraces.

“I’ve had great coaches,” she said. “I’ve had great teammates. And my family is everything to me. They support me no matter what.”

Her family — including older sister, Brynn, who is also currently a senior at Kutztown — have remained constants, showing up, cheering loud, and lifting her up whenever she needs it.

“Sometimes people don’t realize how important that is,” Cassidy said. “When you have people who are always in your corner, it makes all the difference. I wouldn’t be where I am without them.”

Even with Josh away at school, Merkel feels their connection — in text messages, in memory, and in every match she wrestles with the same steady focus he once had.

And while her goals may not be written down in a journal or taped to a wall, Merkel is chasing something bigger: consistency, growth, and purpose.

“I just want to enjoy it,” she said. “Of course I want to win. But I also want to enjoy the little things — being with my teammates, being part of something, knowing I’ve worked hard. That’s what’s important to me.”

Merkel has spent countless hours refining technique, watching film, staying after practice to go over one more thing. Now she’s trying to pass that mindset along — leading warmups, encouraging others, knowing that her voice matters.

“It feels good to know I can help someone else,” she said. “Because I’ve been there. I’ve had those days where nothing goes right. And if I can say something or do something that makes it easier for someone else, that’s a win.”

Whether it’s a long practice, a tough match, or a quiet moment atop the press box, Merkel continues to reflect and rise.

“I’ve changed a lot since I started,” she said. “Wrestling has helped me in ways I never expected. And I know it’s going to help me in whatever comes next.”

Before she climbed down from the press box, she looked out one last time at the field. It wasn’t the place she wrestles — but it was the place she could see everything from.

The start. The struggle. The growth.

The Times News is continuing its series following Josh and Cassidy Merkel for a project titled “Following the Dream,” which strives to bring the community closer, rallying around area student-athletes. We follow their journey as they balance the demands of maintaining a high level of athletic performance while also achieving their goals in the classroom and contributing in the community.