It takes quite an event to revoke a reaction from Hal Watson, but even the mild-mannered man was rendered speechless upon hearing the news.

The former Dirigo coach will be inducted later this summer into the Maine Amateur Wrestling Hall Of Fame.

The honor was humbling to Watson, who started the Cougar wrestling program more than three decades ago with little support or guarantees. Still, Watson refused to be deterred and was determined to see his dream become a reality.

“I am overwhelmed at being selected,” said Watson, a retired history teacher. “To have my name mentioned in the same conversation with those (past and current) recipients is gratifying. As I have contacted people, it has forced me to realize that this has happened to a short, fat, bald kid from (River Valley).”

He will be joined by former coaches Bob Walker and Mark Lewia and Sanford wrestler Ryan Kalman.

Watson initially started a wrestling program at Dirigo in 1980, and Jack Schmidt placed third in the 1982 Class B state championships. Despite high student participation, the administration put things on the back burner.

The vision resurfaced in 1985 when first-year principal Tom Ward asked Watson if he’d be willing to be wrestling coach. Watson’s second-floor classroom served as a practice room. Approximately 10, four-by-eight-foot mats were taped together between the iron-heating grates, which were cranked up.

“Hal is very deserving,” Ward said, currently the SAD 21 superintendent. “I vividly remember watching Hal empty his classroom every night after school and put together what he had for mats and coach wrestling. I knew then that I had to find a way to buy him a wrestling mat and support him in starting wrestling at Dirigo.The rest is history.”

Early obstacles

Watson was introduced to wrestling by the late Mel Preble, who coached at Stephens High School in Rumford. The fever and love for the sport never left.

When wrestling was reintroduced at Dirigo, there were numerous obstacles to overcome, especially since the team wasn’t allowed to practice in the high school gym. In 1989, a regulation wrestling mat was purchased, but it was stored at the middle school one mile away.

Watson handled things by instituting his own style. He hammered out discipline, while early assistants Peter Glover, Mike Burke, Roger Smith, Glenn Gurney and Spencer Quiriron were the technicians.

“I surrounded myself with good coaches,” Watson said. “I took advice from anybody, then I’d pick and choose from the information that I had stumbled across. The important thing was never forgetting reaching toward the goal of a quality program.”

Former athletic director Brad Payne scheduled powers Oxford Hills and Rumford in a triangular meet, and, as expected, Dirigo was crushed. Then Rumford coach Jerry Perkins stated the Cougar wrestlers knew what moves to execute, but they needed physical conditioning. Watson didn’t take any criticism personally, but instead quietly listened and instrumented what was necessary in order for Dirigo to reach the next level.

“When you think of Dirigo wrestling it is important to think of the man who started it,” Perkins said, who is a hall of famer. “Hal Watson started the program from scratch and built it up by learning and teaching the basics. Not only has Dirigo earned respect in Class C rankings, but in all classes.”

For years, Watson brought out the best in his hard-nosed student-athletes. In 1988, the Cougars finished fifth at the Mid-State League tournament and went home with their heads held high. The following day, a scoring error was discovered, and Dirigo was declared the winner.

Following a 1989 meet, Watson proposed to Martha outside. After receiving an affirmative answer, he rushed back inside and help roll the mats up.

Two years later, a Class C state meet was created, but controversy erupted over seedings. Watson promptly spoke up and said it didn’t matter who was seeded where because we’ll still kick your tail. This wasn’t an idle threat because Dirigo won the 1990 state championship and finished runner-up the next three years.

“The classroom was still being used for practice when we won the state championship,” Watson said. “We had six finalists and Keith St Laurent (103 pounds) was our first state champion. My philosophy for the team that I stressed was that we didn’t fit any previous molds. Nobody wanted us. So, if we were relentless, worked hard and stayed together, we would gain acceptance. (Dirigo) built a tradition and has maintained it since it started.”

Watson stepped away in 1994 and handed the reins over to Gurney. Dirigo didn’t skip a beat and won the 1996 state championship. When wrestling gets in one’s blood, it’s hard to ignore and Watson was no exception. He was reeled back in as assistant coach for Doug Gilbert from 1997-2006.

“Hal’s demeanor never changed,” Gurney said. “I’ve never heard a referee or opposing coach say anything disrespectful. He treated everyone fairly like you’d want to be treated. I can honestly say that anyone who’s been around him is a better person.”