Former Olympian Gives BHHS Wrestlers a Hand

Marty Lockwood went from being a 59-pound ninth-grader who got picked last for every sport to an Olympic wrestler, and now he’s showing the Beverly Hills High School wrestling team how to have that same drive and determination.

Lockwood, 54, made the 1976 Greco-Roman Wrestling Olympic Team as an alternate after placing second at the Olympic trials in the 105.5 pound weight class the summer after his sophomore year at San Jose State University.

“It was just very exciting to be on that team,” Lockwood said. “After being that little runt in the ninth grade, there I was at the Olympics with a bunch of guys I could have never imagined being on the same team with.”

The Beverly Hills resident just wrapped up his third season as assistant to BHHS head coach Mark Mead. Lockwood credits his own high school wrestling coach, Hall of Famer Bill Clauder, for making him the man he is today.

“I had a fantastic high school coach who recruited me out of my ninth grade P.E. class because he saw my potential and he thought by the time I was a senior I’d be a tough little guy,” said Lockwood, who attended Monte Vista High School in San Diego. “Thanks to his training and guidance, he was right.”

Led by coach Clauder, Lockwood’s high school team won the first ever California State Wrestling Championship in 1973. Lockwood went on to wrestle in college, made the Olympic team and placed in several national and international competitions throughout his career, including a gold medal win at the 1977 Pan American Games.

“Winning is great, but what makes wrestling a great sport is the fact that people do it because they love it,” he said. “There’s a lot of camaraderie among wrestlers. We call ourselves a band of brothers because it’s such a challenging sport.”

Lockwood was thrilled when coach Mead invited him to be part of the coaching staff at BHHS a couple of years ago when Lockwood’s stepson, Marshall Stevens, was a freshman.

“I can’t give coach Mead enough credit for welcoming me onto the team and giving me time to work with the kids and teach them stuff,” Lockwood said. “Wrestling is a great sport for fathers and sons to bond, so I really have enjoyed being able to do this with Marshall.”

This year’s squad was one of the best in recent school history, according to Lockwood. Six varsity wrestlers took part in the CIF Southern Section Championships and team captain made it to the CIF Southern Section Wrestling Masters Meet.

“At first people didn’t even know Beverly Hills had a wrestling team, but now they know to look out for us,” he said. “Coach Mead has created an environment at BHHS that enabled that to happen. These kids are like brothers to each other and they support each other.”

One of the great things about wrestling is that people of all shapes and sizes can do it—even the little guys, Lockwood said.

“If you’re too small for football and basketball—like me—you can still wrestle and be successful. The weight classes make it fair for everybody,” he said. “Whoever decides he wants to be the best will be. It just depends on who has the determination and who wants to work the hardest.”

Lockwood encourages parents of kids who are being bullied to steer their children toward their school wrestling department.

“Whenever I hear about a kid being bullied, I just wish I could call the parents and tell them to put the kid on the wrestling team, because within 12 months the problem will be solved,” Lockwood said. “Wrestling really makes you feel good about yourself as a man.”

That is, unless you’re a girl. One of the few things that have changed about the sport since Lockwood wrestled is that many girls now participate.

“At almost every match this season we faced some girls and there were some really good competitors,” he said. “I think it’s great for the girls who want to do it.”

Lockwood said coaching at BHHS has not only brought him closer to his stepson, but it has made his entire family closer. His wife, Shirley Watkins, is the team’s biggest fan and supporter, and his stepdaughter, BHHS freshman Sarah Watkins, plans on being the team photographer next year.

“I’m just really grateful to coach Mead for allowing me to be part of the team,” Lockwood said.

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