Born in Minneapolis, Luke Watson moved with his family to Stillwater when he was 5-years old. Playing hockey, baseball and soccer provided him with an athletic background, but his parents decided they needed a family activity they could all do so they would not be shuttling their four children to various places at different times.
It led to cross country skiing and then Luke joined the junior high school cross-country running team.
âI was not immediately the best, but close to the front,â Watson said, describing his first connection with the sport.
From 1994 to 1997, Watson went to the state meet in cross country with the team claiming championships three consecutive years. His junior year, Watson was runner-up to Nic Matick of Duluth East and claimed the title his senior year.