By DAVID WALSH
- The Herald-Dispatch
[email protected]
HUNTINGTON -- Coach Bill Archer remembers sizing up then-freshmen Robbie Williams and Jason Mays when they showed up for the first day of wrestling practice at Huntington High School.
"I knew both would be good," Archer said. Right on.
Williams and Mays, now seniors, are both 41-0 going into the 55th West Virginia High School Championships beginning a three-day run Thursday at the Huntington Civic Arena.
Williams, who competes at 130 pounds, finished second in the state at 125 as a sophomore and was third last year. Mays, who wrestles at 160, placed fifth in the state as a freshman, third as a sophomore and won the 145-pound title last year.
Both are aware of their success, but admit the records mean little come Thursday.
"It�s one match at a time," Williams said. "What matters is where you end up."
"You can�t look at that," Mays said. "It�s just go out and do the job."
During the season, the Highlanders face many of the top teams in West Virginia along with those in South Carolina at the North Myrtle Beach Invitational and in Indiana and Kentucky in the Floyd Central Duals.
"The more they tell me the guy�s tough, the more I want to wrestle him," Williams said.
"I know each match is an opportunity to get better," Mays said.
This season, the Huntington lineup has three seniors -- Williams, Mays and Robert Chaney (152). Eight are either freshmen or sophomores, so Williams and Mays have had to be leaders for the younger Highlanders.
"Neither�s been beaten. They kind of did the job," Archer said.
"I don�t see the guys as freshmen and sophomores now," Williams said.
"They look
up to us," Mays said. "They�ve stepped it up a lot, too. They�ve gotten
better and better as the season went on."
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Williams said
that was apparent at the Region III Tournament on Saturday at Point Pleasant.
The Highlanders made it two straight titles and 22 of the last 31 under
Archer. They had six champions and all 14 wrestlers advanced to the state
where they placed second in Class AAA last season for their best finish
ever.
"They wrestled their hearts out," Williams said. "That�s the kind of fire we wanted. We�ve got to keep the pressure on now."
Though Williams and Mays have identical records, the styles they display on the mat are different.
"Robbie�s more aggressive. It�s an attack style," Archer said. "Jason�s more tactical. Both have been there so I don�t have to say a lot. I just have to try to get them there."
Mays said it would be special to be on the top step of the medal stand again Saturday night.
"It�s one of the best feelings in the world," he said.
Williams said he�ll put it all on the line to join Mays.
"I�ve been close a couple of times and fallen short," he said. "I�m a lot more confident now and better prepared. You can�t say wait until next year because there is no next year. There�s no reason to leave anything behind now."
The two said it�s been fun making sure the Highlanders remain a force in the sport.
"We want to get the name bigger," Mays said.
"What we�re working toward is when we walk in the gym, everyone gets quiet," Williams said.
Both wrestlers agreed Archer has had a major impact on their lives and will continue to do so after they�ve graduated.
"He�s more than a coach," Williams said. "It�s more of a friendship. You know what�s coming and it�s all for the best."
"I always look
up to him," Mays said. "What we take with us after Saturday will be more
about life than just wrestling."