OUTLOOK: Traveling the furthest East to wrestle, freshman Ryan Williams will weigh in at 149 pounds for various open tournaments throughout the 2004-05 campaign.
"Ryan is my first of hopefully many California recruits," Head Coach Brian Smith said. "He is a highly decorated wrestler and comes to Missouri with great skills on the mat. Ryan's overall strength, technique and coachability will help him make the next step as succesful as his last."
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2004 graduate of La Costa Canyon High School, Williams finished first at the California State Wrestling High School Championships his senior year, taking third as a junior (2003) and fourth as a sophomore (2002). Williams is an Amateur Athletics Union (AAU) National Freestyle Champion, four-time Freestyle State Champion, High School All-American, three-time high school state placer and four-time state qualifier. Under the direction of Head Coach Dwayne Buth,Williams stood second among the 152-pound 2004 recruiting class. Williams earned four letters as a Maverick and played football in high school.
PERSONAL: Williams was born Aug. 18, 1985, in Camp Pendleton, Calif., to parents Don and Linda Williams. Ryan has one brother, Cody (10) and is majoring in business.
