Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State Wrestling Senior Spotlight: Q&A with Sean Williams
2/14/2018 10:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Prior to Fresno State Wrestling's dual on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. against No. 4 Oklahoma State, the Bulldogs' will honor their lone senior, Sean Williams.
FRESNO, Calif. - Prior to Fresno State Wrestling's dual on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. against No. 4 Oklahoma State, the Bulldogs' will honor their lone senior, Sean Williams.
After spending his first three seasons at the University of Oklahoma wrestling at both 125 and 133 pounds, the Tulare, Calif., native returned home to help build the restored Fresno State Wrestling program as it continues its ascent towards the top of the Big 12.
GoBulldogs.com recently sat down with Williams to get his insights on his final year as a collegiate wrestler and returning home to be a Bulldog.
Q: What has this redshirt senior season been like for having the opportunity to return back home to wrestle at Fresno State, a school you grew up so close to?
Williams:Â "It has been crazy. Initially when I moved back to California, I did not have any intention of wrestling and just moved out here to go to school and that was it. When I made the decision to come back, my dad told me, did you hear Fresno State is bringing back wrestling and I was stunned to say the least, but it gave me something to do. When I got out here, I started training with Coach Steiner and at the time there were only five or six guys around, so it was a real small group, and now seeing how large the team has become is very cool. We have a great environment around the team and being closer to home, I know a lot of these guys. It has been a real good fit. I am really enjoying every moment of this year and especially with Coach Steiner and the rest of the coaches and workout partners. The team in general is a lot of good guys to be around."
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Q: Have your parents, siblings, other family members been able to attend the home duals and how nice has that been?
Williams: "When I was in Oklahoma, my parents always said I'll come to the next one, but they were never able to make it, but being here at Fresno State, my parents are able to come along with my siblings, grandparents, cousins, so that has been really nice to have that support.
Q: You will forever be part of a historic season in Fresno State wrestling history with the return of the program, has that sunk in yet or you think that is something in 10 years you'll think about more?
Williams: "I thought about that at the start of the season. I had a real good mindset coming in and wanted to be one of the first All-Americans at Fresno State since the return of the program which is still one of my goals, but as the season has gone I haven't thought the future much and started just focusing on the present. It is definitely starting to come to the realization how cool it is to be part of the initial groundbreaking of the program."
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Q: To have one or two coaches with international wrestling experience on a staff is impressive, but to have four is crazy, what have you learned from them, and especially volunteer assistant & two-time All-American Joe Colon?
Williams: "Yeah that is great and they all have their different coaching styles for sure. I like that a lot that they are all not the same. Coach Steiner is nurturing and guides you the whole way, while Coach Silva is more hard-nosed and stern. Coach Chamberlain is very relaxed and knows how to get his point across without being so in your face. I have been able to work with Joe a lot one-on-one and he has taught me a lot and has been one of the main reasons I have got better as the season has gone along."Â
Q: You have wrestled a lot of tough competition this season and picked up some nice wins, what are your goals for the rest of the season?
Williams: Right now, I am really focused on the match coming up on Sunday against Oklahoma State and not really focused so much on the Big 12 Tournament or NCAA's. Overall, I want to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in mid-March in Cleveland and wrestle tough at the Big 12 Championships in Tulsa (March 3-4) and place high as a I can."
Q: You have been a collegiate wrestler for five years now, what certain life lessons have you learned that from your time as a wrestler?
Williams: "You cannot take shortcuts. It is definitely hard work, but I remember coming into college, I was a hard-working guy, and Oklahoma had recruited some other guys in my weight class and I would beat them because they would be real lazy. As a sophomore, I started to slack off and things did not go the way I wanted so it has taught me that hard work is a must and you have to be diligent and always practicing your craft."
Q: Finally, with your collegiate wrestler career ending in about a month, what's next in terms of finishing school and career?
Williams: "After I graduate from school this spring, I want to either get into coaching or possibly the police academy. It is very exciting, but at the same time nerve wracking, but I'm sure I'll figure it out."
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:Â
Twitter: @Fresno StateWRES
Instagram:Â fresnostatewrestling
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthletics
After spending his first three seasons at the University of Oklahoma wrestling at both 125 and 133 pounds, the Tulare, Calif., native returned home to help build the restored Fresno State Wrestling program as it continues its ascent towards the top of the Big 12.
GoBulldogs.com recently sat down with Williams to get his insights on his final year as a collegiate wrestler and returning home to be a Bulldog.
Q: What has this redshirt senior season been like for having the opportunity to return back home to wrestle at Fresno State, a school you grew up so close to?
Williams:Â "It has been crazy. Initially when I moved back to California, I did not have any intention of wrestling and just moved out here to go to school and that was it. When I made the decision to come back, my dad told me, did you hear Fresno State is bringing back wrestling and I was stunned to say the least, but it gave me something to do. When I got out here, I started training with Coach Steiner and at the time there were only five or six guys around, so it was a real small group, and now seeing how large the team has become is very cool. We have a great environment around the team and being closer to home, I know a lot of these guys. It has been a real good fit. I am really enjoying every moment of this year and especially with Coach Steiner and the rest of the coaches and workout partners. The team in general is a lot of good guys to be around."
Â
Q: Have your parents, siblings, other family members been able to attend the home duals and how nice has that been?
Williams: "When I was in Oklahoma, my parents always said I'll come to the next one, but they were never able to make it, but being here at Fresno State, my parents are able to come along with my siblings, grandparents, cousins, so that has been really nice to have that support.
Q: You will forever be part of a historic season in Fresno State wrestling history with the return of the program, has that sunk in yet or you think that is something in 10 years you'll think about more?
Williams: "I thought about that at the start of the season. I had a real good mindset coming in and wanted to be one of the first All-Americans at Fresno State since the return of the program which is still one of my goals, but as the season has gone I haven't thought the future much and started just focusing on the present. It is definitely starting to come to the realization how cool it is to be part of the initial groundbreaking of the program."
Â
Q: To have one or two coaches with international wrestling experience on a staff is impressive, but to have four is crazy, what have you learned from them, and especially volunteer assistant & two-time All-American Joe Colon?
Williams: "Yeah that is great and they all have their different coaching styles for sure. I like that a lot that they are all not the same. Coach Steiner is nurturing and guides you the whole way, while Coach Silva is more hard-nosed and stern. Coach Chamberlain is very relaxed and knows how to get his point across without being so in your face. I have been able to work with Joe a lot one-on-one and he has taught me a lot and has been one of the main reasons I have got better as the season has gone along."Â
Q: You have wrestled a lot of tough competition this season and picked up some nice wins, what are your goals for the rest of the season?
Williams: Right now, I am really focused on the match coming up on Sunday against Oklahoma State and not really focused so much on the Big 12 Tournament or NCAA's. Overall, I want to qualify for the NCAA Tournament in mid-March in Cleveland and wrestle tough at the Big 12 Championships in Tulsa (March 3-4) and place high as a I can."
Q: You have been a collegiate wrestler for five years now, what certain life lessons have you learned that from your time as a wrestler?
Williams: "You cannot take shortcuts. It is definitely hard work, but I remember coming into college, I was a hard-working guy, and Oklahoma had recruited some other guys in my weight class and I would beat them because they would be real lazy. As a sophomore, I started to slack off and things did not go the way I wanted so it has taught me that hard work is a must and you have to be diligent and always practicing your craft."
Q: Finally, with your collegiate wrestler career ending in about a month, what's next in terms of finishing school and career?
Williams: "After I graduate from school this spring, I want to either get into coaching or possibly the police academy. It is very exciting, but at the same time nerve wracking, but I'm sure I'll figure it out."
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:Â
Twitter: @Fresno StateWRES
Instagram:Â fresnostatewrestling
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthletics
Players Mentioned
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