Williams, who is in his sixth year at the helm of the AHS wrestling program is expecting big things from the Bulldogs.
“We’ve completed a lineup as far as our strength. Our strength looks real good team as far as our team. Top to bottom, I put us against any team in the state. On the right day I think we are capable of beating just about anybody.”
Williams and the Bulldogs are hoping to feed off of two back-to-back state dual tournament berths.
“We are two time district champs,” Williams said. “I expect to get a third and I expect to be the number one seed in the west going into dual state. That’s my expectations. And I told the kids that. That’s what I expect from them and by doing that we are going to work hard and get to that level. If we are the number one seed in the west, if everything goes right, that makes us wrestle the number one seed from the east in the finals. Where last year we were the number four seed and we had to wrestle the number one seed first.”
Last season the Bulldogs were beaten in the first round by Claremore by a 30 point margin. During a team camp Altus defeated Claremore in team camp by one point. That certainly raises the question can the Bulldogs win the state title.
“Oh yeah,” Williams said. “If we keep taking steps to get better every day, we have a legitimate chance to win it, barring injuries We’re there we just have to keep working.”
But it is understandable why Williams is optimistic. Four wrestlers who qualified for the state meet last year are back including Kanyon Cunningham (135), Kanyon Weldon (130), Jeremy Delzer (152) and Tyler George (160).
Also back is Alex Cobos who took fifth at the regionals last year at 119. Matt Wilhite who will be at 119 this season also was fifth at the regionals.
“We have talent at every weight.” Williams said. “We don’t have a weakness at any weight. We just have to get them at the right spots.”
There will also be some newcomers that could crack the lineup including some very talented freshman.
“We have some incoming freshman that are extremely tough,” Williams said. “Keilan Torres is real tough and Drake Martel is as well. Hopefully they will be at weights that are not occuppied by some of the other upper classmen. These kids are capable of bumping some upper classmen off. It kind of keeps everybody on their toes.”
Help has also come from the football team in Ryan Feller (215) and Jacob Billarrial at heavyweight.
“I think we will be solid as any team in the state,” Williams said.
With all of this Williams wants to see big crowds at the home duals promising his team will put on a good show.
“We want to encourage the fans to come out an watch us,” Williams said. “It’s going to be exciting. “We’re still pretty young, but at the same time there’s going to be a lot of excitement. A lot of excitement in the dual matches.”
The Bulldogs will open the season against Elk City and Hobart on Tuesday at Elk City.
They host Woodward and Lawton in a dual on Thursday at Cletus B. Street Fieldhouse.
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