Wrestling: Relaxed Williams aims for back-to-back state titles

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South Hills senior Thomas Williams is the only Southern Section wrestler with a CIF state championship to defend this weekend at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield. But, according to his coach, Robb Froh, the 119-pounder is feeling a lot less pressure than he was at this time a year ago, back when he was a returning state runner-up.

‘He’s much more relaxed this year,’ Froh said of Williams, one of four Southern Section wrestlers to win a state title last season and the only one who was not a senior at the time. ‘Last year, after being (in the finals) the year before and losing, he was a little tighter. This year he’s loose. He feels good about his draw and he knows what he has to do to get back to the finals.’

Williams (35-2), who missed several matches in January while recovering from a knee injury and battling strep throat, is ranked second in the state, behind Gilroy junior Martin Gonzalez, who defeated Williams, 4-2, in the Five Counties semifinals in January. The two wrestlers would not meet this weekend until the state finals.

Third-ranked Richard Alarcon of Mayfair and fourth-ranked Marcus Orona of Santa Fe are also on the opposite side of the bracket as Williams. Williams edged Alarcon, 1-0, in the finals of last weekend’s Southern Section Masters meet. Orona took third in the event but did not face Williams.

Gonzalez and Alarcon are on course to meet in the state quarterfinals and the winner of that match could face Orona in the semifinals. Williams could face fifth-ranked Mike Hernandez of Poway or sixth-ranked Brandon Rocha of Lemoore in the semifinals. Williams beat Hernandez, 1-0, in the third-place semifinals at Five Counties.

-- Chuck Schilken, guest blogger

-- Photo by Alex Horvath