Liberty North’s Elmotie Williams pulls out dramatic win for Missouri Class 4 285-pound wrestling championship
Liberty North sophomore Elmotie Williams
Nate Latsch photo
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Arguably the most dramatic moment of the 2023 MSHSAA Wrestling Championships came in the final Class 4 match at 285 pounds.
Liberty North sophomore Elmotie Williams was trailing when he pinned Liberty sophomore Trenton Bindel with just three seconds remaining in the match to claim the state championship.
“It’s unreal,” Williams said. “I’ve been working so hard for this and finally got it. I can’t even describe the feeling of it.”
What happened in those final seconds?
“I was down 3-1 and I decided to go neutral start, so 10 seconds left, I got my double-unders and just threw him, pinned him,” Williams explained.
The Eagles’ standout sophomore, who finished the season with a 44-5 record, stunned the Mizzou Arena crowd with his late pin.
Williams even surprised himself.
“I was really surprised,” he said. “I was just hoping, I was hoping, like, please let this work.”
It worked. And now Williams is a state champion with two more seasons of high school wrestling ahead for him – as well as future matchups with Liberty’s standout Bindel.
Williams is also a player to watch on the football field where the 6-foot-2, 270-pound offensive lineman is a Division I prospect.
Williams, who played right guard for the Eagles last season, picked up his first scholarship offer from the University of Kentucky back in December.
“It was pretty exciting because it’s the SEC. As a sophomore, that’s so exciting.”
MORE COVERAGE OF THE MISSOURI WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Rock Bridge’s Carter McCallister ends high school wrestling career in style with third state title
Nixa’s Zan Fugitt finishes off high school wrestling career with third Missouri title
Whitfield's AJ Rallo caps off high school wrestling career with fourth state championship
Hillsboro wins first Missouri wrestling championship in school history
Liberty boys, Lebanon girls continue Missouri wrestling championship streaks
Photos: Missouri wrestling championships (Boys Class 3-4, Girls Class 1) finals
Palmyra's Collin Arch captures fourth Missouri state wrestling championship
Photos: Missouri wrestling championships (Boys Class 1-2, Girls Class 1) finals
Missouri state wrestling championships preview (Boys Class 3-4, Girls Class 2)
Missouri state wrestling championships preview (Boys Class 1-2, Girls Class 1)
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