By Kary Booher (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
A few years ago, Shane Williams figured he would step away from leading a high school wrestling program in order to be in a less visible role as an assistant.
“Let the young pups,” have the stage, he said.
However, one year after serving as an assistant coach south of Kansas City, Williams wanted more and successfully pursued the head coaching job of the Waynesville High School wrestling program.
Which should be a good fit, as he’s been a journeyman coach building interesting credentials the past 25 years and takes over a program with teenagers from well-traveled Army families.
“That’s OK. Kids of Army families are used to having a work ethic,” Williams said. “And, in the time I have them, I want to work with them and help them be successful.”
Expect to see a high-energy type of team, then, as Williams has long preferred the University of Iowa’s aggressive style.
“It’s going to be a six-minute war or however long,” Williams said, and later added, “If we’re not out-technique-ing you this year, we’re going to beat you up for awhile. And, after a while, (opponents) don’t like that.”
Williams wrestled his first two years at Wentzville High School before focusing on baseball, and played for Truman State University’s baseball team. He coached wrestling at Grain Valley in 1998 and 1999, was an assistant at Missouri Baptist University for a stretch and was a coach for the Missouri National Team for 14 years.
A year ago, he was an assistant at Clinton High School after four seasons at Lexington, where three of his teams finished in the top 13, including a ninth-place finish in 2019.
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Projected roster
Williams is unsure of the number of wrestlers who will be on the roster at the start of the season, as he’s been trying to recruit off the football team and in the hallways.
For sure, he’ll have seven returning starters, including a returning state qualifier.
The projected roster could be Nate Austin at 106 pounds, followed by Matthew Schaffer at 113, junior Williams Austin at 120, Dustin Green at 126 and Aiden Smith at 132.
In the upper weights, look for Kaiden Cruz at 152 pounds, followed by either Aiden Stearns or Isaiah Smith (160), Gunner Legrande (170), Dillon Smith (182), Aiden McFarland (195) and freshman Ian Sheppard (220).
Several weight classes are up in the air.
Williams Austin at 120 qualified for the state tournament last year.
“He worked hard this summer and looks to improve on last year and bring home a medal,” Williams said.
Look out for Green.
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“He’s probably the strongest pound for pound in the room,” Williams said. “He really pushes his partners.”
Stearns and Smith could be key leaders.
“We’re looking for one of these guys to really step up and take this weight,” Williams said. “Both work hard, so I’m excited to see what plays out.”
Legrande and Smith might be able to make each other better.
“He and Gunner push each other, which will benefit them during the season,” Williams said.
McFarland is back in the sport after a couple of years away.
What excites Williams is that Waynesville has had some success over the past decade and its wrestling room has the space to hold practices.
“It’s like a college wrestling room,” Williams said. “And you don’t need a two-hour practice. We’re going to go for about an hour and 45 minutes.”
Wayneville’s first dual is Nov. 30 against Republic.
