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02/27/2018 11:00 PMFor the past three seasons, Camilla Beeley has proved a crucial component to the success of the Guilford wrestling program behind the scenes. As a team manager for the Indians, Camilla has helped out the squad by doing things like providing assistance to the media, working the clock at meets, and lending support to Guilford’s grapplers throughout the ups and downs of each campaign.
Camilla, a senior, grew up in New Haven and transferred to Guilford High School as a sophomore after spending her freshman year at Hopkins. Camilla, whose athletic background included field hockey and squash, met Guilford wrestling Head Coach Craig Vedrani when he was her gym teacher during her first year in the school. Vedrani asked Camilla about becoming a manager for the wrestling team, and the rest was history as she’s served in that capacity for the past three seasons. This year, Camilla became the Indians’ head manager as a senior.
“I was nervous at first, because there was a bigger amount of students here compared to Hopkins...but I am thankful for the team here. They made me feel like I was part of a family,” Camilla says. “The team and Coach Vedrani were so welcoming to me.”
Camilla witnessed a great showing of sportsmanship this season that served as a prime example of why she likes wrestling so much. What Camilla cherishes most about being part of the team are those emotional moments where she feels how deep of a bond there is among everyone.
“This year against Branford, Joey Conover was wrestling his friend from Branford. They shook hands before and after the match, but they had a different mindset during it, and I thought that was great,” Camilla says. “The little moments are my favorite ones. I liked when the wrestlers would come over after a match and then the managers would encourage them and tell them they gave it their all. I also loved the bus rides and everyone singing along together to songs.”
Camilla feels thankful for the friendships she’s formed as a result of being Guilford’s manager. She likes how she can have an impact on the team through her role on the sidelines.
“Some of the rewarding aspects of the job are the relationships you build with the boys,” says Camilla. “Even though I’m not a wrestler, I feel like I am part of the team. It’s great to be there with them through it all.”
While Camilla doesn’t compete for the Indians, Coach Vedrani says that she puts just as much time, heart, and energy into the team as the person beside her.
“Camilla is a very organized, polite, and enthusiastic person who is always trying to come up with new ways to improve the team,” says Vedrani. “She keeps stats, takes videos, makes posters supporting the boys, and is a great role model and coach to our younger managers. Her dedication and hours spent supporting the team are much appreciated. She will be missed next year.”
Although she’s currently undecided on what school she wants to attend, Camilla is aiming to double major in chemistry and psychology on a pre-med track with aspirations to become a pediatrician. Camilla believes that some of the things she’s learned during the last three winter seasons will play a big part in helping her pin down those goals.
“Growing up, I wasn’t assertive, and bad at vocalizing things. As a manager, if issues rise up, you must vocalize them, so it taught me to be more assertive,” says Camilla, who thanks her parents, Shannon and Christopher, along with Coach Vedrani and everyone involved with the Guilford wrestling program. “Even when wrestlers win, they can be disappointed with how they wrestled and, through trying to encourage them, I learned that the sport is much more than wins and losses.”