Staff photo / Preston Byers Liberty assistant wrestling coach Matt Pontuti and Jermaine Watson talk during a blood stoppage in Watson’s first-round match Friday at the OHSAA state wrestling tournament in Columbus.

COLUMBUS — After upsetting Archbishop Alter’s Luke Snyder in the first round of the OHSAA wrestling state tournament, Jermaine Watson’s smile likely could be seen from space.

The 157-pound senior from Youngstown Liberty had just stunned a district champion in his state tournament debut, and he beamed while making his way off of the mat.

Watson’s excitement could barely be contained as he explained that when he got his start in the sport in the seventh grade he never thought wrestling would be as big of a part of his life as it has become.

“I picked up wrestling as a hobby. I stopped doing football, and I was like, ‘I’m about to go wrestle,’ Watson said. “I started doing wrestling, I got very good at it. I started to like it, found it fun.”

Real-life events, as well as the joy he found wrestling, have driven Watson further and further into the sport.

Watson’s mother died two years ago, a moment where Watson said his “life went left.” He had big dreams, ones that centered on moving his mother out of Youngstown and buying her a house in the “Bahamas or something.”

Since her passing, Watson has turned to the comfort of the mat to try to replace the comfort his mother provided.

“It really just helped me cope,” Watson said. “Wrestling is my escape from reality. It’s a world where I can just go have fun, enjoy life. … Whenever I did wrong in wrestling, or whenever I did wrong in life, I’d go straight to my mom. Now it’s like, once I do wrong in life, I just try and focus on wrestling because I’m doing good. It’s been an escape for me my whole life.”

Liberty head coach Ryan Williams, who has watched Watson grow into a young man in his wrestling practices, said the sport has absolutely been a positive outlet in Watson’s life.

“He was basically forced to grow up sooner than kids should be forced to grow up,” Williams said. “He needs those one-on-one challenges. He thrives on it. He loves the big stage. Wrestling provided that for him.”

Watson has fully embraced the structure and focus wrestling requires, having shed more than 20 pounds from the beginning of the season. He compiled 30 wins before the Division III Independence district tournament, where he secured a fourth-place finish to qualify for the state championships in Columbus.

“He always believes in himself. That goes a long way, especially in these one-on-one sports. He’s got that going for him every time he steps out,” Williams said. “He’s all heart. What he lacks in technique, he makes up in speed, athleticism — all the stuff you can’t coach.”

In the state’s capital, Watson defeated Snyder by injury default after Snyder grabbed at his leg twice following separate successful Watson takedowns. Watson lost via pinfall to Northmor’s Carson Campbell and Elgin’s Quinten Harrison to fall just short of placing in the top eight in the Division III 157-pound weight class.

Regardless of the results, though, Watson’s still dreaming. Rather than a house in the Bahamas for his mother, Watson now dreams of attending Ohio State. So to be on campus, wrestling in the Schottenstein Center, it’s like a dream that has partially come true.

“Just being here is a gift. I never would even think I’d be in this building. I come from a very low background. I don’t come from people that go to O[hio] State. I don’t come from all this. This is nice. The bathrooms look as big as my house.”

Watson, because of the obstacles and pain he has endured and overcome, is focused on himself, enjoying every moment and leaving a positive impact on others.

“He’ll talk to anybody. He’ll do anything for anybody,” Williams said.

Wherever Watson’s path leads, he is going to be himself and wrestle as long as he is able.

“I realized, what’s the point of holding back? Your life is your life. Nobody can dictate your life. You’re in control of your life, and I’d rather live my life as happy as possible,” Watson said.

“My old dreams are ruined. … Once [they] went out the window, I just said, ‘Let me just live life as positive as I possibly can.’ This is helping it. Wrestling is helping it.”

Have an interesting story? Contact Preston Byers by email at pbyers@tribtoday.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @PresByers.