A provincial high school wrestling champion is confident but a little unsure as she gets set to compete for another title in two weeks time.
“To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect,” said Holy Trinity Academy Knight Sadie Watkins. “Last year, I didn’t realize how big of a deal provincials was until after it was over. This year, I know what it is like, but I am in a new weight class and I know have some real good competition.
“I am confident, but at the same time I don’t know what to expect.”
Watkins won the provincial gold medal at 57kg last year.
This year she is at 61kg.
She’s been able to build her confidence the past two weeks as she won the gold medal at the Forest Lawn Titans tournament on Feb. 4 at 61kg.
Watkins did it again by taking gold at the Winston Churchill Bulldogs meet in Calgary on Feb. 11.
She beat an Aberhart Orange wrestler in the final.
“I beat her 10-nothing,” Watkins said. “I had five or six matches and I teched all of them.”
To tech a wrestler is to get up by enough points to stop the match.
Watkins is as close to a sure thing as they come to finish in the top five at rural provincials on Feb. 24-25 in Edson which would secure her a spot for provincials in early March.
However, she is far from a sure thing to get to the top of the podium in Edson.
“I think I will definitely finish in the top three, but I will be coming up against Kinley Link — she missed provincials last year because of Arctic Games,” Watkins said.
However, in rurals, Watkins was beaten 10-0 by the veteran Link.
Watkins was the lone wrestler from Okotoks to wrestle at Churchill last weekend. However, Cayley’s Austin Habing also competed. He lost both of his matches in a tough 65kg division.
Although senior high wrestling numbers in Okotoks are down lower than Donald Trump’s approval rating, unlike the presidency, the future looks bright.
The Okotoks Wrestling Club had three junior high level wrestlers finish in the top five at Churchill.
Cael Watkins won gold at the 65kg class. Ryker Blankert was fifth at 60kg and Hargun Singh was fourth in the 47kg class.
“He wrestled really well,” coach Doug Watkins said of Singh.
