It finally happened.
After three years Okotoks wrestler Reid Watkins found himself in a hold he just couldn’t avoid or get out of, however, he didn’t try that hard.
The hold happened to be the congratulatory hug from his dad and coach, Doug, after Reid won his third consecutive Canadian championship when he pinned Pavanvir Dulai in the Juvenile (17-18) men’s 76kg final April 14 in Fredericton.
“It was bittersweet in a way,” the 17-year-old Reid said of his victory. “I am going to be leaving my coach, who is my dad, who has been coaching me my whole career. This was our last match together because I will be going off to university. It was pretty emotional.”
Doug, who has been coaching Reid since he was an elementary student, agreed it was an emotional moment when the referee raised his son’s arm to signify him winning the national title.
“Reid deserved it,” Doug said from New Brunswick’s capital city. “He has worked awfully hard since he started wrestling when he was in Grade 6 or so… Hopefully, I will be able to help him now and then.”
Reid went undefeated in winning the championship, pinning three of his four opponents. Watkins was selected the most outstanding wrestler in the Juvenile men’s category.
Dulai was the only one of Watkins’ opponents to score a point on him. However, Watkins made amends for that by pinning Dulai late in the first round.
“He is a long guy and that gave him the advantage of being able to shoot from farther away,” Reid said. “I was trying to stay in close and be fast and dynamic. I was trying to outwrestle him rather than out muscle him.”
Usually Watkins tries to extend the match to give his opponents more experience. That’s not the case at a national championship.
“At nationals it’s game on,” Reid said with a laugh. “It’s just go-go-go. Especially when I am the smallest guy in the weight class.”
There was a little bit more for dad to hug this year. Reid opted to wrestle at his more natural weight this year rather than cutting to get to a smaller division. He did it to prove a point.
“There were lots of people who told me I couldn’t win at nationals without cutting weight,” Reid said. “They said it was cheating, so I could beat guys at a lower class. So I said why not and took the challenge.”
Reid said the comments came from outside the wrestling world from people who don’t realize cutting weight is a common practice.
Watkins stepped up his training program after winning the high school provincial championships for the Holy Trinity Academy Knights at 76kg in Okotoks in March.
“I didn’t think I was in good enough shape (for nationals)” Reid said.
“I started training at the University (of Calgary) and got in the frame of mind to get me ready for nationals. We did more live situations. They put me in more difficult spots which I had to get out of.”
However, Watkins almost missed out on being named the outstanding wrestler.
“We were walking out of the gym when they started to announce it, so we stopped to hear who won,” Reid said with a laugh. “I was shocked, so I went back to get it. I was really proud to win because it is the coaches who decide.”
Reid won the Juvenile championship in 2011 at 69kg. He won the Cadet (15-16 years old) championship in 2010. He was a bronze medalist as a Cadet at 63kg as a Grade 9 student in 2009.
Watkins will now focus on rugby with the HTA Knights and maintaining his studies. He said he had several universities show interest in him at nationals.
The Okotoks Wrestling Club sent four other wrestlers to nationals.
Cassidy Barnert, a Grade 11 student at Foothills Composite High School, finished fifth in the Juvenile girls 60kg division. She won three of her five matches.
Brock DuBerger from the MD of Foothills was fifth in the Juvenile boys 72kg division.
Cody Thompson, wrestling in his first national tournament, finished fifth in the 76kg Cadet division. Thomson, a Grade 10 student at Foothills Comp, went 2-1 in the tournament.
Abi Watkins faced a tough draw and went 1-2 at the 52kg Cadets girls division.
