A native of Ankeny, Iowa, wrestled for Ballard Community High School, lettering four years on the boys team. In 2016, she became the first female to win a sectional title when she won the 145-pound championship. While still in high school, Watters was the youngest wrestler to qualify and compete in the 2016 United States Olympic Team Trials. She was a three-time ASICS/Vaughan Freestyle Nationals champion and a two-time Folkstyle Nationals champion. Throughout high school and college, Watters won five age-group national championships and represented the United States in three Junior World Championships and two U23 World Championships. She was a four-time All-American for Oklahoma City University and went undefeated as a senior while becoming the first Iowan to win a WCWA national title and the Sooner Athletic Conference championship. Watters was a four-time recipient of the Iowa/USA Wrestling Female Athlete of the Year award. She competed in USA Wrestling’s Final X competition in 2018 and was a member of the USA Senior National Team. Watters won a silver medal at the 2019 Pan-American Championships and competed in the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.