Crescent wrestler Kade Williams left Woodmont on Dec. 4 with six wins and needed just a few more to reach a top milestone that 16 Tiger wrestlers have done before him in his career – 100 wins.
He was aware of what he needed to do at his next match on Dec. 7 against Belton-Honea Path at home, and he did it in front of his family and friends.
"It meant a lot because my home crowd got to see it," Williams said.
Williams' mother, father and both grandmothers were in the Crescent gym to cheer him on.
Last season Crescent claimed the Class AA State Championship for the first time in 15 years. Williams' end goal was to chase a three-time defending state champion, Jackson Stembridge from Bamberg-Erhardt High School, and be selected most outstanding wrestler.
He achieved both when he defeated Stembridge in the state championship, 3-0.
During Williams' freshman and sophomore years, qualifying for state was in sight, but in both years at the Upper State matches he finished just out of reach of competing for a state title.
After coming up short of a state championship his sophomore year, Williams began to train in the offseason for the first time. The extra work helped motivate him for his final two seasons.
"Since 11th grade, I haven't been nervous in a match. I put them (nerves) behind me and tell myself I am better than that guy and what I have to do to beat him," Williams said. "My freshman and sophomore years I was nervous and my stomach would feel weird. I cut that out, and I think it makes me wrestle a lot better."
Williams says in close matches he will wrestle smartly and not do anything to give his opponent an advantage or claim quick points. Wrestling smart means determining what the right moves are to make depending on his opponent.
"There are moves I would try to do on someone that I can tell is not as good," Williams said. "But if I am going up against another state champion or state placer … someone that is really good, too, I wouldn’t try anything against them and do what I am best at. Just not do anything dumb for them to catch me slipping and catch some easy points."
Specifically, he said against an opponent he is confident he can defeat he will try to "bully them up" with under hooks, a clinch hold on the opponent, or bear hugs. However, when he is going up against a three-time defending state champion, for example, he will attack one of the opponent's legs, and not get out of his stance.
Williams hopes to win the Class AA championship again this season, and Crescent wrestling coach Austin Powell said he thinks he can as long as he stays healthy. Williams' other goal is to go undefeated.
Last season, Williams' only loss was to the eventual Class AAA state champion Easton Brannon of Belton-Honea Path.
Powell said the motivation that Williams holds comes from within but is hard to explain.
"I think he was so close to greatness his freshman and sophomore year that it just created that 'want' inside of him. He sought out to be the best last year," Powell said. "Now his name is known all across the state and he built that reputation all on his own."
Powell, who is in only his second season as Crescent wrestling coach, has reached the pinnacle in a short time. He said would love a repeat, but knows there will be challenges.
"We will have to go through Ninety Six," Powell said. "They are extremely tough this year. Also, Chesnee could be a tough matchup as well."