Last year, Kady Watkins made history. This year, she wanted something more.
In 2019, Watkins became the first woman from Hillsborough to compete for a high school wrestling state championship in the 1st annual North Carolina High School Athletic Association Women’s Wrestling Invitational in Winston-Salem. Competing at 126 pounds, Watkins lost her first round match, but rebounded to pin Haley Shipes of West Mecklenburg in the consolation round. Sarah McLaurin of the N.C. School of Science and Math eliminated Watkins in the next round via a 9-2 decision.
On Saturday in the 2nd annual women’s invitational in Concord, Watkins wanted to place in the 120 pound championships–if not win it.
“She is an absolutely wonderful kid, she is not only a role model for the other girls on the team but the guys as well,” said Cedar Ridge wrestling coach Scott Metcalf of Watkins, who frequently leads the team in stretching exercises to conclude daily workouts. “She has the respect of her teammates, she works hard, has a great attitude and most importantly is extremely coachable, which not all kids our nowadays.”
In the end, Watkins fell short of her goal, but she did make some history along the way.
She became the first female wrestler from Hillsborough to reach the semifinals of a state championship when she defeated Swansboro’s Madeline Coplen via a 9-6 decision in the quarterfinals.
On top of that, Watkins lost to the eventual state champion. Abby Phillips of South Caldwell defeated Watkins by technical fall. Phillips, who ended the year 25-16, pinned Makalya Wright in 2:29 to win the championship.
“She was really hoping to place this year. But I know she’ll use it as motivation for next year,” said Metcalf. ” Sometimes matchups play a role in some of these tournaments on whether a wrestler will place or not. I think that may have been the case here. She has been an absolute joy to coach and I was really heartbroken today when she came up a little short because she deserved it.”
Watkins, a junior, finished 10-19 this year. She still has her senior season to meet her goals. But if the middle school scene in Hillsborough is any indication, she can take solace in knowing she is very much a trendsetter.
This year, there were four female wrestlers at Cedar Ridge. Freshmen Sun Tha (106 pounds), Raelyn Broucksou (113), and Emma Watkins (Kady’s sister at 126 pounds) all joined Watkins in the state women’s championships.
Plus, the middle school scene at Stanback Middle School has active female wrestlers who helped the Bulldogs to a 2nd place finish in the Orange Person Athletic Conference this year.
Tha pinned Desta Daniels of Jacksonville in the opening round of the 106B pound division. Laila Sa of Hoke County pinned Tha in 41 seconds. Sophia Forquer of Corinth Holders eliminated Tha in the consolation round.
Broucksou lost her opening match, but rebounded to pin Eastern Alamance’s Alaina Kunder in 4:20 of the 113B pound division. Broucksou defeated Hertiage’s Bryanna Luihn 4-0 to reach the consolation semis, but was pinned by Jacksonville’s Teah Chunn, who wound up finishing third.
Emma Watkins, a freshman, won three matches in the consolation round. After dropping her opening bout to Marissa Connelly of West Henderson, Watkins pinned Northern Nash’s Elizabeth Daniels in 1:52. She pinned Alliana Garcia of Albermarle in 2:54. Watkins pinned Dekira Baker of Fairmont in just 14 seconds. Lillian Sealey of High Point Central pinned Watkins in the consolation semifinals.