By Tanya Garcia | Lansing News Wire
Lansing News Wire caught up with Antonio Albarez-Williams, a senior wrestler from Everett High competing in the 157-pound division. Here’s what he had to say about his wrestling journey in this edition of Meet the Vikings Q&A:
Q: What inspired you to start wrestling?
A: What inspired me was being a 3rd generation wrestler in the family.
Q: Who has been your biggest influence in wrestling?
A: My grandpa Robert Albarez Sr, grandmother Tina Albarez, mother Andrea Albarez, uncles Tony, Albert, Gilbert, and Robert Albarez coaches Timothy Foster, Alan Couthen and Laraine Walton.
Q: What do you love most about wrestling?
A: The thing I love most is the commitment the hard work and dedication and the effort that is put into this sport.
Q: What does a typical week of training look like for you?
A: Mondays and Thursdays are more of a technical practice and Tuesdays and Fridays are weight cut practice days and Wednesday and Saturday we go win matches.
Q: What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced in wrestling?
A: The biggest challenges were the ones I put on myself, all of the pressure of making it out or getting first place, challenges I set on myself were the biggest ones because I realized I had to take it one match at a time.
Q: Can you describe your first match? How did you feel?
A: My first high school match was electric for me I felt like I belonged and gave me home I could always come to, after pinning the first guy in that match I felt so accomplished and successful because of the work my coaches helped me put in.
Q: What has been your proudest moment in wrestling so far?
A: My prouder moment is when I made regionals for the first time, because I never thought it was possible for someone like me to be able to make it that far only wrestling for a few years at the time.
Q: How does it feel to be back with the team this season, what are your individual and team expectations?
A: It feels amazing being with my team, my brothers and sister, my family my individual goals for my team is just have fun and maybe win matches while doing it as long as we have each other nothing will stop us.
Q: How has being a student-athlete helped you grow as a person?
A: Being a student athlete has made a big impact on our team actually our wrestling team most likely had the best overall grades out of our athletic teams at Everett, it helps us grow because it give us responsibility and a sense of priority because we have to be smart in the books before were smart on the mat.
Q: What does it mean to you to represent your school as a student-athlete?
A: It means a lot to represent my school as a student athlete because Everett deserves more recognition for the work they are putting in with our students, showing us how to be better people in the world.
Q: What lessons have you learned through wrestling that apply to your life outside the sport?
A: Lessions I’ve learned from wrestling is self discipline, self mindset and leadership.
Q: How would you describe the strengths and overall dynamic of your wrestling team?
A: One strength is that we are a family and that we are supportive to one another, we have a very young team that is ready to eat and work hard for the years to come.
Q: What’s your coach’s name and share one piece of advice from your coach that has stuck with you?
A: Head coach- Timothy Foster- how important it is for both hard work and consistency in and out of wrestling. It’s a sport that requires dedication, discipline, and mental toughness, and can relate to just about everything moving forward. Success in wrestling doesn’t come overnight and isn’t easy and It’s the little things you do every day that add up. Your work ethic, attitude, ability to push through tough times and stay consistent will take you a long way in life. assistant coach- Alan Couthen The only way you lose is if you don’t try your hardest. We don’t remember days, we remember moments.
Q: What’s one thing you admire most about your coach’s leadership style?
A: One thing I love about my coaches they allow us to play, joke, and fool around sometimes but they always make sure that we can flip that switch in our head and wrestle 100% for 6+ minutes and prepare us for everything.
Q: What advice would you give to others who want to start wrestling?
A: I strongly encourage everyone to join wresting, yes it will be hard and yes it will be a grind but in the end you will see improvements and you will feel a sense of accomplishment because you are the one that did it.
Q: What’s your signature wrestling move, and does it have a cool name?
A: My signature move is a half nelson with a tight waist and drive them over their head. It doesn’t have a name because I put those combinations together.
Q: Have you ever had a match where something hilarious or unexpected happened? What was it?
A: Yes, actually me and my opponent were having a whole conversation while I was beating him and then pinning him.
Q: If your team had a karaoke night, who would steal the show, and what song would they sing?
A: my teammate, best friend and Captain Cellyon Benning he would steal the show with Tennessee Whiskey.
Q: If you could wrestle any celebrity, who would it be, and why?
A: Jordan Burroughs, I would wrestle him because he will make me work hard and teach me a lot of things that maybe I need to perfect or work on.
Q: If wrestling had walkout music like boxing or MMA, what would your theme song be?
A: I would go old school with Planet Rock.
Q: What is your favorite classroom subject?
A: Mathematics
Q: What is your dream school/university?
A: Hampton University an HBCU college in Virginia.
Q: What is your favorite place to go eat?
A: A Taco Truck called Taquero Mucho.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: I would go to Ethiopia.
Q: What’s a hobby or activity you enjoy outside of sports?
A: My favorite hobby is throwing he annual Lansing Fiesta with Tony Albarez and Daniel Ferreira.
