PEMBROKE – UNC-Pembroke wrestler Mike Williams is elusive, determined, confident and nearly impossible to pin down.

And that’s all before he even steps on the mat for the Braves.

It’s those qualities, evident when looking at his wrestling career dating back to his days at Southern Lee, that make Williams the Braves’ top grappler and have the red-shirt junior eyeing his first national championship.

The 5-foot-10 Williams, then wrestling at 157 pounds, earned All-American honors in each of his first two seasons, finishing seventh as a freshman and fifth as a sophomore in the NCAA Division II national tournament.

He missed time each year due to injuries, including knee and shoulder surgeries and a nagging skin infection, making his accomplishments in the tournament even more impressive.

Nonetheless, the elite finishes are subpar by Williams’ standards.

“These last two years, Mike has fallen short of his goals of being a national champion,” coach Othello “O.T.” Johnson said.

This year, naturally filled out to 165 pounds, healthy and carrying a 26-1 record after the end of the regular season, Williams has his best chance of taking a national title.

He’ll compete in the NCAA Super Region I tournament at UNC-Pembroke this weekend, where a top-4 finish will qualify him for nationals.

Johnson says Williams has prepared well for the postseason, as is the wrestler’s nature.

“One of the things that struck me about Mike during the recruitment process was his preparation for a high school match,” Johnson said. “The way he got in the zone, he didn’t want anything around him to distract him.”

And frankly, there’s plenty of things in Williams’ life that could prove distracting.

First, there’s his studies. Now a criminal justice major with a concentration in English, Williams first opted to major in business before switching his focus to English and then landing on his current course of study.

Then there’s his dedication to his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, and the business model he’s developing with some of his brothers for a marketing and sales promotions company they plan to start.

Plus, Williams has three children – two sons, 4 and 1, living in Sanford and Raeford, respectively, and a 10-month-old daughter who lives with him and her mother in Pembroke.

“Yeah, I am busy,” Williams said. “Between all that and training, that’s everything.”

And that’s how Williams wants it.

“Mike can’t really have down time,” Johnson said. “He doesn’t want it.”

It’s a restlessness that’s plagued him since his youth in his native New Jersey, where Williams admits he struggled.

“I wasn’t the worst kid, but I wasn’t the best kid either,” Williams said. “It wasn’t like I was in crazy amounts of trouble all the time. But I wasn’t focused, and I needed a new scene.”

Williams’ grandmother, Leola, on a weekend visit to New Jersey, invited the youth to move from his parents’ home in Plainfield to Sanford to live with her.

“I just threw my stuff in a bag and came back with her,” Williams said.

He arrived at Southern Lee at the start of his junior year and found his focus in wrestling, promptly going 48-0 en route to a state championship.

Williams has never moved back to New Jersey, opting instead to call North Carolina home even after Leola Williams died in 2010.

He says he remains close to his parents, who will be on hand for the regionals to cheer him on. And he remains closer to his dream of a national championship than ever before.

“I was disappointed with finishing where I finished the last two years,” Williams said. “But that’s my mentality. I expect to win every tournament, whether it’s a dual or nationals.”

Staff writer Jaclyn Shambaugh can be reached at 609-0651 or shambaughj@fayobserver.com.

“Chick-fil-a Spirit Night” will be the First Tuesday of every month from  5:00pm – 8:00pm, Dine in or Drive thru.  Remember to say you are there for Southern Lee Cavalier Spirit Night.  From the sales you generate, SL will recieve 10% back.

New Forms

Bylaws, Request for Funds and Team Representative forms have been updated. Forms can be found under the “Forms” tab.

We’ve also added the 2012 Booster Club Scholarship Application under the “Forms” tab.

Spring Raffle – April 27

The Southern Lee High School Athletic Boosters will be holding our annual Spring Raffle on April 27th  during the baseball game against Overhills.  There will also be a Silent Auction. The ticket includes admission to the game and silent auction, a hamburger/hot dog meal and a chance to win CASH! Click here to find out more!

The Southern Lee team offered a number of volunteers taking part Saturday in a St. Mark United Church of God charitable program providing meals to homeless and low-income locals.

“It’s important to give back to the community,” Lee said.

What is Lee’s favorite part of the program? “Seeing their smiles,” he said with a big grin.

Saturday’s giveaway was scheduled to roll through parts of central Sanford, as leaders with the Church Street ministry delivered about 100 meals in the neighborhood, making stops at Stewart Manor and nearby Washington Avenue.

Zelma Smith, Missionary Department president at St. Luke, said she helped to organize Saturday’s program along with fellow church member Ann Davis. Smith said Saturday’s event marked the third time the church has planned the meal deliveries in as many years.

“There’s a need because there’s a lot of people on the street,” Smith said.

St. Luke Pastor Malcolm Curry said the deliveries will come to the homeless and less-fortunate, as well as local shut-ins. This year’s crew got a boost with the assistance of the Southern Lee squad.

“One promise that I made when I became the head coach here was that we are going to get more involved in the community,” said Southern Lee coach Gaston Collins.

Collins said Saturday’s meal program is one of a number of initiatives the team will use to help the community, particularly during the holidays.

“I wanted to instill in our guys the real meaning of the season,” he said.

Collins added that the community outreach also serves another purpose for the school team.

“The community comes out and they support us a lot at our games,” Collins said. “And I just wanted to say, ‘Thank you.’”

On behalf of the Southern Lee Athletic Boosters we thank you for an outstanding fall sports season.

2011-2012 Booster Club accomplishments to date:

• New Varsity Cheerleading Uniforms, Warmups and Cheer signs
• New Tennis Uniforms
• New Volleyball Uniforms
• New Football Helmets
• New Golf Bags for the Golf team
• Stadium Upgrades including; New Sign on the Press Box & Concession equipment
• Hudl Sports video editing & analysis system
• Assistance with the purchases of a New Gator, Field Lining Equipment  and New Headsets.
• Events such as Meet the Coaches night, The Chill on the Hill, Midnight Madness & Homecoming Hospitality.

……..And we still have Winter and Spring Sports to come, so be on the lookout for more

Congratulations Southern Lee Golfer Sarah Black!

Cape Fear Valley Conference Golfer of the Year, Sarah qualified for the State Tournament which will be held at Foxfire CC.

Congratulations to our Varsity Soccer team!

Booster Meeting – The next Athletic Booster Club meeting will be November 14th at 7:00 pm in the SLHS cafeteria.

 Membership Form - The 2011-2012 booster club membership form is now available online under the Forms tab.

Sports Physicals - For your convenience, the Southern Lee High School Athletic Participation Form has been made available online under the Forms tab.