For Hudson Merwin, the path to becoming Ridgefield High School’s starting kicker began with a soccer ball.

Hudson started playing soccer at age five through Lil’ Kickers in Salmon Creek. Like many young athletes, he spent countless hours on the field with friends, playing for rec teams and eventually moving on to club sports. Soccer was a huge part of his life.

But during his freshman year, something unexpected happened. At halftime of his brother’s soccer game, Hudson stepped onto the field and kicked a football through the uprights for the very first time. He remembers thinking, “I could be good at this.”

The idea stayed in the back of his mind until his sophomore year, when he heard that Ridgefield High School needed a kicker. A friend connected him with the team’s kicking coach, Dominic Howard, and during their very first meeting, Hudson kicked a 35-yard field goal.

“I remember that conversation,” Hudson said. “It sparked my pursuit of kicking. Coach Dom told me I could be a starter for the team and potentially go D1.”

That memorable conversation launched a new journey.

The early days of summer after sophomore year were an inconsistent grind. As junior year neared, Hudson began training more seriously, putting “the brakes on soccer and the gas on kicking,” though he continued playing both.

A major turning point came when Hudson attended a national kicking conference and earned a four-star rating. Athletes from across the country were evaluated, and the ranking gave Hudson confidence that he could compete at a high level.

After his junior soccer season, Hudson faced a decision: continue balancing soccer and football or focus completely on kicking.

“It was a no-brainer for me, but a group decision with my parents,” he said. “We all put a lot of time into soccer, but if I wanted a shot at going D1 for kicking, I needed to make a sacrifice and focus on one thing.”

Today, Hudson trains three to four times per week and spends four to five days in the gym. Through sports, he’s learned one lesson above all others: consistency.

“If you’re not consistent, you’re not going to get better,” he said.

When he isn’t training, Hudson enjoys pickleball, boating, skiing and music. In fact, he says music is a key part of every training session. His faith is also central to who he is.

“I love Jesus,” he said simply.

Looking ahead, Hudson hopes to study business and entrepreneurship. He has a few schools he’d like to attend, but ultimately wants to land where he can continue kicking and playing football.

His story is a reminder that success doesn’t always begin with a perfect plan. Sometimes it starts with one unexpected kick, a willingness to work hard, and the consistency to keep going.