Post by Alumni on Feb 26, 2007 9:53:40 GMT -5
JOE SANTORO
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Nick Williams felt like a heavyweight trapped in a middleweight's body.
"It was hard for me," the Galena High School wrestler said recently. "I was 160 pounds for three years, my freshman, sophomore and junior years. It just got real hard to cut weight. I'd wear two pairs of sweat pants, not eat or drink. It was tough."
It's not that Williams didn't experience success at 160 pounds. His junior year, after all, ended with a surprising state championship.
"His junior year, nobody in the league really expected much out of him," Galena wrestling coach Jade Alvarado said. "He was kind of up and down all year. But he came out of nowhere to win the regional and the state title."
It was the ups and downs -- and the constant battle with weight -- that Williams wanted to eliminate during his senior year.
"I had a lot of inconsistencies my junior year," Williams said. "It was just tough for me to make weight. Luckily I just seemed to peak toward the end of the year at just the right time."
Williams took luck out of the equation this year.
"After my junior year was over I just decided to get as strong as I possibly could and see where that took me," Williams said. "It came down to either wrestling at 189 pounds or 215 pounds and I just settled at 215."
Different weight, same results. Williams went out his senior year and captured his second consecutive state title last month, winning at 215 pounds. Jordan O'Neal (112) of Damonte Ranch and Doug Del Porto (119) of Galena also won state titles.
"I had such high expectations that I put on myself this year," Williams said. "After I won as a junior I was real happy. It felt great. But this year it was more of a feeling of relief."
Alvarado said he recognized Williams' potential three years ago.
"His freshman year he had a lot of natural ability but he was very inexperienced," Alvarado said. "He was a great physical specimen and very strong for his size. We knew that once he learned technique and got a feel for wrestling that he'd be very successful."
But nobody, Alvarado said, could predict two state titles.
"We knew he'd be a success," Alvarado said. "But there's success and there's success.
"You just can't predict that amount of success for a kid. He's been amazing."
The 6-foot-1 Williams played football as a freshman before deciding to concentrate on wrestling. He is also a member of the Galena student newspaper and the Galena String Ensemble.
"I started to play cello when I was 7 years old and I've played bass since I was 11," Williams said. "It's nice to have a few interests other than wrestling. It helps me take my mind off wrestling. But wrestling is definitely number one with me."
It will also likely be his ticket to college. Arizona State and UC Davis have shown interest in him and the University of Minnesota sent a coach to Reno to watch Williams' state championship match last month. Williams said he plans on visiting the Minnesota campus in March.
Alvarado said Williams deserves the opportunity.
"After last year, instead of resting on his accomplishments, he worked even harder this year," Alvarado said. "He wants to continue his success at the college level and win more championships."
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Nick Williams felt like a heavyweight trapped in a middleweight's body.
"It was hard for me," the Galena High School wrestler said recently. "I was 160 pounds for three years, my freshman, sophomore and junior years. It just got real hard to cut weight. I'd wear two pairs of sweat pants, not eat or drink. It was tough."
It's not that Williams didn't experience success at 160 pounds. His junior year, after all, ended with a surprising state championship.
"His junior year, nobody in the league really expected much out of him," Galena wrestling coach Jade Alvarado said. "He was kind of up and down all year. But he came out of nowhere to win the regional and the state title."
It was the ups and downs -- and the constant battle with weight -- that Williams wanted to eliminate during his senior year.
"I had a lot of inconsistencies my junior year," Williams said. "It was just tough for me to make weight. Luckily I just seemed to peak toward the end of the year at just the right time."
Williams took luck out of the equation this year.
"After my junior year was over I just decided to get as strong as I possibly could and see where that took me," Williams said. "It came down to either wrestling at 189 pounds or 215 pounds and I just settled at 215."
Different weight, same results. Williams went out his senior year and captured his second consecutive state title last month, winning at 215 pounds. Jordan O'Neal (112) of Damonte Ranch and Doug Del Porto (119) of Galena also won state titles.
"I had such high expectations that I put on myself this year," Williams said. "After I won as a junior I was real happy. It felt great. But this year it was more of a feeling of relief."
Alvarado said he recognized Williams' potential three years ago.
"His freshman year he had a lot of natural ability but he was very inexperienced," Alvarado said. "He was a great physical specimen and very strong for his size. We knew that once he learned technique and got a feel for wrestling that he'd be very successful."
But nobody, Alvarado said, could predict two state titles.
"We knew he'd be a success," Alvarado said. "But there's success and there's success.
"You just can't predict that amount of success for a kid. He's been amazing."
The 6-foot-1 Williams played football as a freshman before deciding to concentrate on wrestling. He is also a member of the Galena student newspaper and the Galena String Ensemble.
"I started to play cello when I was 7 years old and I've played bass since I was 11," Williams said. "It's nice to have a few interests other than wrestling. It helps me take my mind off wrestling. But wrestling is definitely number one with me."
It will also likely be his ticket to college. Arizona State and UC Davis have shown interest in him and the University of Minnesota sent a coach to Reno to watch Williams' state championship match last month. Williams said he plans on visiting the Minnesota campus in March.
Alvarado said Williams deserves the opportunity.
"After last year, instead of resting on his accomplishments, he worked even harder this year," Alvarado said. "He wants to continue his success at the college level and win more championships."