NEW LEXINGTON - Losing an entire season on the mat has been the driving force for Dimitri Williams.
The
New Lexington senior missed his junior year with a shoulder injury, but
competed throughout the summer in various tournaments, including the
freestyle nationals in Fargo, North Dakota.
His
dedication has been rewarded throughout the season, as Williams enters
this weekend's Division II state wrestling meet with a 31-0 record,
including a district championship won last weekend.
"He's more determined," New Lex coach Dave Ratliff said.
"When you have something taken away you love, and you're not sure if you
will get it back or be 100 percent if you do, you don't take it
granted. I know Dimitri thanks the Lord every day and pushes himself to
be the best version of Dimitri."
Past lessons have also
kept Williams focused. He reached state as a sophomore and went 1-2,
but the 170-pound grappler opens with a favorable draw this time,
starting with sophomore Daniel Greiner of Batavia, a fourth-place
finisher from the Wilmington district.
"I was satisfied
making state as a sophomore, but I'm not satisfied this time," Williams
said. "My focus is to win each match. I used to crack under pressure,
but I'm handling that better, and I know my capabilities. I just need to
go out and be the best I can be each time."
Williams
gained confidence during the offseason. He admitted freestyle wrestling
was more challenging than high school with different rules, but also
provided valuable experience.
"It improved my mat
awareness," he said. "There's no out of bounds and if you get rode (kept
down by the opponent) three times, the match is done. It helped me
understand different positions and to know where I was on the mat."
Ratliff has seen it translate to his season. Being aware of his position on the mat is another tool in Williams' arsenal.
"He wrestled 60 matches over the summer and won a gold medal
in Florida so it comes with seasoning," Ratliff said. "He knows how to
defend better and is conscious of his body position. The places where he
didn't perform well or was making bad decisions now he can change it on
his feet. Everything has slowed down."
Williams can rely
on a solid coaching staff. Ratliff has been with the program for 12
years, including the past seven as the head coach, while assistant Shawn
Enright was a two-time All-American grappler with Ohio University. Matt
Reed also wrestled for Ohio, while Zeb Wood and Alan Randolph are
former New Lex standouts on the mat.
Having the support of last year's state heavyweight champion, Matt Adams, has also helped Williams during the postseason.
"I
believe we have the best coaching staff in the state. They care so much
about each of us and have worked with me to help me wrestle to my
ability," Williams said. "Having Matt (Adams) around this postseason has
been big. He's been very supportive, and I would like to add another
title to the program."
Reaching state and standing atop
that podium drives many wrestlers like Williams. Ratliff believes
Williams can be there, thanks to the program's culture and the senior's
mindset.
"Alumni are around often, and it's a big
family," Ratliff said. "The New Lex culture pushes each wrestler to put
their best out on the mat every time. We don't want to settle to be a
really good school in Southeast Ohio, we want to be known around the
state.
"Dimitri is ready to prove that," he added. "For him, it's about staying loose, having fun and focusing on one match at a time."