The training is grueling and the self imposed discipline can be backbreaking, but for Washington heavyweight wrestler Marquin Hill it’s all worth it once the match ends and the official raises his hand in victory.

Even though the wrestling season has been over for a few months now, Hill, a back-to-back NCHSAA 3-A state champion, garnered another victory on Tuesday when he signed a National Letter of Intent to wrestle for Pembroke University.

Hill said in the end it came down to two schools, but the personality and attitude of Pembroke coach Jamie Gibbs helped steer him towards Pembroke.

“I’m really excited. At first I wasn’t sure about it till I took a visit to see how it was. I wanted to wrestle for a good coach and Coach Gibbs is a great coach,” Hill said. “We connected really good.”

That connection made for a great moment on Tuesday as Hill’s parents Katina and Jermaine Moore, along with his uncle Freddy Smith looked on as the Pam Pack star signed on the dotted line.

“I’m very proud of him,” Katina said.

Jermaine added, “He’s come a long way and I want him to do his best.”

Hill certainly has come a long way. Before he was a two-time state champion, Hill was just a bigger-than-average middle-schooler trying to learn a new sport.

Hill admits he was “not good” at first but eventually the star grappler evolved into a cat-quick heavyweight.

By the time Hill got to the ninth grade he was opening eyes.

“I remember when I first saw him wrestle,” Washington coach Daniel Riggs said. “I actually went home to my wife and even called my dad saying that I could see him being a state champion. He came to one of our open gyms and actually beat one of our varsity starters as a freshman. He is a pretty special kid and I had fun all four years coaching him.”

Hill may not have wrestled at all if it weren’t for the influence of two key people.

“I actually didn’t know anything about wrestling until my seventh grade year,” Hill said. “Mr. (Monty) Rish, he was the middle school coach and he told me I should come out for the wrestling team. Then (former Pam Pack state champion Justin) Weasel Moore’s father got me into AAU wrestling … Going to AAU practices with Mr. (Aaron Lee) Moore got me better. You’re not going to be good just wrestling at school.”

Under the tutelage of Moore and Riggs, Hill blossomed. Aside from winning back-to-back state titles, Hill fell one win shy of the Washington High School record and might have achieved that had it not been for a match that was canceled due to snow. With a career record of 159-27, Hill is No. 2 on the list behind Moore’s son, Justin.

Riggs said what made Hill such a good wrestler was is that he is so easy to work with in practice and willing to learn.

“He’s really easy to coach and he is always willing to make changes. That’s a big thing because you always have to make changes if something is not working,” Riggs said. “He will come up to you and ask you what can he do better and how he can improve. That really helped him out the last four years.”

For Hill, who went 49-0 his senior year to win his second state title, there was no better to way to go out.

“Nah, there’s no better way to leave,” Hill said. “I just wanted to keep winning. I didn’t want my uncle Freddy picking on me for losing so I had to make sure I kept winning.”

Hill’s winnings ways allowed him to silence his fun-loving uncle throughout his Pam Pack career, and if he continues down the same path the next four years may be quiet one ones for Uncle Freddy.

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