Grant Williams Named as New Head Coach of Eagles’ Wrestling Program

Watonga High School has found its next head coach of the Eagles’ varsity wrestling program in Grant Williams, a Coweta High School and 23-year-old Oklahoma Wesleyan University alumnus.

Williams was a standout wrestler at Coweta High School under Tigers’ varsity wrestling head coach David Gilstrap.

During his high school career, Williams compiled a 145-40 record, was a member of the Tigers’ Class 5A dual state runner-up team in 2015, was crowned the 2015 champion at the Bishop Kelley Tournament and was an individual qualifier for the OSSA State Wrestling Tournament in 2014.

After graduating from Coweta High School in 2015, Williams continued his wrestling career at the collegiate level after he signed a letter of intent to attend Oklahoma City University to wrestle for the Stars under OCU head coach Archie Randall.

After two seasons at OCU, Williams transferred to Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville for the 2018-19 wrestling season as a junior. Williams was a part of history as this was the inaugural season for the Eagles’ wrestling program. He would go on to compile an impressive 12-6 record in matches despite the beginning of his season being shortened to injury, eventually placing second at the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference regional tournament in the 165-pound class and just narrowly missing a chance to go to the NAIA national tournament.

As the lone senior on the OKWU roster for the 2019-20 season, Williams was named as the team captain of the Eagles’ varsity wrestling squad. He graduated from OKWU earlier this month with a bachelor’s degree in general business.

Williams will take over for former Watonga varsity wrestling head coach Colton Looper, who left Watonga in April to become the new head coach of Rogers High School in Northwest Arkansas.

In just one year at Watonga, Looper revitalized an Eagles’ wrestling program that had just three wrestlers on the roster for the 2018-19 season to 23 wrestlers for the 2019-20 season.

Three of those Watonga wrestlers went on to qualify for the 2020 OSSA State Wrestling Tournament under the guidance of Looper: senior Ethan Henderson, sophomore Joe Jackson, and sophomore Shawn Johnson.

Be sure to check out future editions of the Watonga Republican and The Geary Star for more current Eagles’ and Bison sports updates as well as other news regarding the coronavirus situation going forward. All spring and summer activities for both Watonga Public Schools and Geary Public Schools are suspended until further notice.

Andrew Salmi can be reached at Sports@WatongaRepublican.com