AS A JUNIOR (2011-12): Captured UNCP’s first wrestling national championship and earned all-American honors with a perfect run through the 165-pound bracket at the NCAA Division II National Championships in Pueblo, Colo. … Super Region I Most Outstanding Wrestler … Finished season with a 34-1 (.971) record, including a 23-1 (.958) mark in tournaments and a perfect 11-0 clip in dual meets … Registered nine pins (second on team) and seven victories by major decision … Also accumulated a perfect 26-0 mark against NCAA Division II opponents … Dropped second bout of season to N.C. State’s Nijel Jones (4-2 decision), but was victorious in each of his final 32 matches of the campaign … 33-match win streak included a perfect 3-0 mark against top-6 ranked opponents … Captured championship honors at five tournaments, including the Davidson Open, the Midwest Classic, the Citrus Invitational and the NCAA Super Region I Tournament … Turned in a 5-0 record at the Davidson Open, including a pair of wins against NCAA Division I opponents … Was 4-0 at the Midwest Classic and followed that performance up with a 5-0 clip at the Citrus Invitational … Won all four matches at the NCAA Super Region I tournament, including 2-1 decisions in both his semifinal and championship bouts … Was a perfect 4-0 as the nation’s No. 2-ranked wrestler at the NCAA Division II National Championships … Ousted fourth-ranked Joey Wilson of Nebraska-Kearney by a 2-1 decision in the semifinals and then topped fifth-ranked Mason Findlay of Findlay by a 5-2 decision in the championship.
AS A SOPHOMORE (2010-11): Earned all-America honors with a fifth place finish at the NCAA Division II National Championships … Finished season with a 27-5 (.844) record, including a 12-3 (.800) mark in tournaments and a 15-2 (.882) clip in dual meets … Registered six pins (second on team), one technical fall and a team-leading six major decisions … Also compiled a 24-3 (.889) record against NCAA Division II foes … Captured championship honors at the NCAA Super Region I Tournament and finished second at the Midwest Classic … Began season by splitting his first four matches, but won nine of his next 10 bouts to stake claim to No. 1 in the national rankings at 165 pounds … Posted a 4-1 record at the Midwest Classic, but fell to Ohio Northern’s Luke Miller in the championship match … Posted a perfect 5-0 record at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals en route to Most Outstanding Wrestler accolades at the event … Performance at Cliff Keen National Duals sparked an 18-match win streak that was eventually snapped by fourth-ranked Gavin Nelson of Augustana (S.D.) in the second round of the NCAA Division II National Championships … Rebounded with a pair of wins in the consolation bracket, but was turned back in the wrestleback semifinals by sixth-ranked Joey Wilson of Nebraska-Kearney … Exacted revenge in the fifth place match by upending Gavin Nelson by a 6-5 decision.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2009-10): Earned all-American honors at 157 pounds with a seventh place finish at the NCAA Division II National Championships in Omaha, Neb. … Earned Super Region I Most Oustanding Wrestler laurels following a perfect 3-0 run at the Super Region I Tournament in Johnstown, Pa. … Finished initial campaign in Pembroke with a 13-3 record, including a 7-1 mark in dual meet matchups … Tallied one win by technical fall and two others by major decision … Compiled a 13-2 mark against NCAA Division II foes … Dropped his collegiate debut to The Citadel’s Turtogtokh Luvsandorj (6-4 decision), but rebounded to win each of his next 11 individual bouts of the season … Made his debut in the national rankings on February 18 at No. 6 … Also made debut as region’s top wrestler at 157 pounds on February 15 … Had 10-match winning skein snapped with a 5-3 sudden victory setback in the second round at the NCAA Championships … Rebounded to oust St. Cloud State’s John Sundgren in his consolation opener, but fell to top-ranked Marcus Edgington of Augustana in the wrestleback quarters.
HIGH SCHOOL: Prepped at Southern Lee High School for coach Mike Short … A two-time all-state and all-conference performer for the Cavaliers … Amassed a 136-8 career record … Compiled a 45-2 clip in grabbing team MVP accolades as a senior … Named conference MVP for the second-straight year en route to pacing Southern Lee to the conference championship for the second consecutive time as well … Also helped Cavaliers to their second-straight state tournament appearance … Reeled off a perfect 48-0 record as a junior en route to the state championship … Named to the National High School Coaches All-American team as well.
PERSONAL: The son of Theresa and Joe Williams was born on Oct. 28, 1990 … Cousin, Darrion Caldwell, is currently a redshirt senior on North Carolina State’s wrestling team … Born in Plainfield, N.J. … An English major at UNCP.
