CEC senior ready to roll
Priest-atkinson leads Cougars into regional, provincial high school meets
Seth Priest-atkinson might not participate in the most popular high school sport, but the Cobequid Educational Centre Cougars senior is right at home on the wrestling mat.
“I think wrestling is one of the not-as-recognized sports,” he said. “Most people don’t know I’m a wrestler unless I say so. Everyone knows the football players, the basketball players and the volleyball players. Not everyone knows the wrestlers.
“I’ve been trying to get people to watch and possibly join wrestling.”
In his Grade 11 year, Priest-atkinson played outfield with the CEC baseball team that won the Nova Scotia championship in 2018.
He also has a yearbook’s worth of memories from his three years of high school wrestling under the tutelage of coach and teacher Hans Budgey.
“Everyone loves Mr. Budgey,” said Priest-atkinson, 17. “He knows how to make us work, but he also knows how to have fun, as well.
“The bond you can make with teammates – new friends – is really good. The training itself is fun because you’re trying new techniques. It’s something new that you want to try and learn how to do right.
“You work hard and then you’re able to go into the tournament not necessarily feeling confident, because you’re always going to feel anxious, but you’ll feel prepared.”
That’s the case for the Cougars as they ready for the regional and provincial championships March 6 and 7, respectively, at King’s-edgehill private school in Windsor.
Priest-atkinson has been one of the Truro school’s leaders this season, during which he has placed first, second and third in his division in tournament action.
“Seth is an incredibly friendly, mild-mannered, funny, team-leader kind of guy,” Budgey said. “Everybody looks up to him in terms of how he conducts himself. He’s a lot of fun, but also when he gets on a mat, he’s a very strong wrestler. He’s a good combination for the other wrestlers to (try to emulate).”
Priest-atkinson is about five-footnine and 235 pounds. He competes in one of the heaviest weight divisions, 110 kilograms, at the high school level.
“He’s a fierce competitor,” Budgey said. “He’s in a physically tough category. The skill level and the size and the strength of the athletes who are there is pretty significant.
“Seth has become better technically as he’s gone through the sport, where he now has a powerful repertoire of techniques. He started off the season with a big win in his first tournament, and then his last two tournaments haven’t been as strong, so he’s looking to rebound at the regionals and provincials to win it all in his Grade 12 year.”
Priest-atkinson has adapted well to a sport that first appealed to him in Grade 10, the same year he was a student in Budgey’s physical education judo course.
“I think I’ve taken to (wrestling) pretty well,” he said. “The first year was rough. I won maybe one or two matches in my first year of wrestling. Last year, I did better and won a decent amount more matches. And then this year, it’s going pretty easy for me.
“I think I’ll be able to come at least top two (in the regionals). As for provincials, I honestly would have no idea (where I might place). I don’t know any of the wrestlers from the other region. (A podium finish) would be a great way to end my wrestling.”
While he’s finishing his competitive wrestling, Priest-atkinson isn’t ready to roll up the mat altogether. He’d like to help out as a coach, perhaps with the Cougars as soon as next season.
That’s welcome news to Budgey, who recognizes coaching traits in Priest-atkinson.
“He’s the kind of person that you’d want to have around for something like that,” Budgey said. “I think he’s really enjoyed his time in wrestling. He has certainly taken it very seriously and he’s trained hard.”