Four years ago, Watts was completely unaware of the sport.
He said he felt lost and scared nearly every match as a freshman.
He’s now 16-1 on the season and is ranked second in Class A’s 170-pound division, per Pin-TN.com. After finishing fifth in the state tournament last year, Watts is shooting for the top spot at the end of next month.
“I feel like every year I’m just getting better,” he said after a Tuesday match at Nashville Christian. “I’ve been working really hard this year, and I want to make it further in state. I’m just going to keep grinding.”
Wrestling came natural to Watts, and it seemingly hasn’t stopped in doing so.
He opted for basketball as a middle schooler with Heritage, a sport he admitted he wasn’t very good at. Watts then turned his attention to the mats with the high school’s former co-op program at East Robertson.
“The first day at practice I ended up loving it, and I just fell in love with the sport,” he said. “It gave me an adrenaline rush that I’ve never had before.
“I have good length, (and) I’ve developed a lot of strength and skill throughout the years.”
Things started to click in the middle of his first year, and that adrenaline rush carried over when White House Heritage founded its wrestling program the following season.
Watts has qualified for the state tournament every year since. He set a new career best for wins on Tuesday.
“I think the biggest thing has been his movement,” said Heritage wrestling coach Joseph Hill. “He knows his body and can move his body really well. He’s learned several moves that he loves to run, and he’s homed in and really worked on those skills.
“He’s wrestling at the elite level.”
Coming off a December championship in the Bruise Brothers Invitational, Watts quickly knocked off previously undefeated Jamel King at Nashville Christian for his 11th consecutive win.
His lone loss this season came against Wilson Central’s Matthew Hills, who sits as the sixth-best wrestler in Pin-TN’s AA rankings. Watts also holds decisions over large division wrestlers from Dickson County, Gallatin, McGavock and Springfield.
With nine remaining regular season matches to prepare, Watts hopes he can improve upon his 6-4 state tournament record and end his high school career on top.
“I think my chances are a lot better this year,” he said. “I’m trying to at least make first this year. I think I have a better chance.
“I just think wrestling is meant for me. I think it’s the only sport that I can really do.”
RESULTS: Nashville Christian 51, White House Heritage 21
-Nikolas Taylor (For.)
-Deion King over Brayden Crouch (13-7)
-Kyle Watts over Jamel King (4-2)
-Peyton Woodard over Mason Hawk (Pin)
-Richmond Flowers over Jacob Mahoney (Pin)
-Jaden Potts (For.)
-Daniel Duncan (For.)
-Carson Upchurch over Keith Lunsford (Pin)
-Brody Parnell over Logan Shoemaker (Pin)
-Donavan Brown over Alex Fentress (Pin)
-Nathaniel Slough over Gage Smith (Pin)
-Christopher Mitchell over Alex Taylor (Pin)
-Noah Delervant over Benjamin Ivey (Pin)
