GETTING A GRIP ON WOMEN'S WRESTLING; T.O. TEACHER IS WORLD-CLASS ATHLETE.Byline: Lee Barnathan Daily News Staff Writer Shannon Williams is the cheerleader coach at Thousand Oaks High School Thousand Oaks High School is a high school established in 1962 and located in Thousand Oaks, California. It is a California Distinguished School, and offers curriculum at all levels for Thousand Oaks students. The mascot is the lancer. . She also happens to be a world-class freestyle wrestler. Williams, who recently moved to the area with her fiance, recently won her fourth silver medal in the 112-1/4-pound division at the World Championships in France. She previously won silver medals in 1991, '93 and '94. A new teacher at T.O. who instructs students in dance and physical education, Williams expects to be kept quite busy with her load. Nevertheless, the 26-year-old hopes to find time to help the Lancers lanc·er n. 1. A cavalryman armed with a lance. 2. A member of a regiment originally armed with lances. 3. lancers (used with a sing. verb) a. A kind of quadrille. b. wrestling team and bring more females into the sport. ``They know I'm there. They know what I've done,'' Williams said. ``What time I can manage, I'll be there. I will definitely be there for matches, and I'm going to make my cheerleaders Notable cheerleaders
Williams became a wrestler after being influenced by her father, who also wrestled. At Chaffey High in Ontario, she was captain of the junior varsity team For the American rock band, see . In sports, usually at the high school and college levels, members of a team who are not the main players in a competition (such as a football or basketball game) are called junior varsity players. and voted most valuable wrestler. She was 1-2 as a varsity wrestler. It is only in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. where Williams is not recognized as the superb athlete she us. In Europe and Asia, where women's wrestling is popular, she is widely known and often stopped for autographs. At the world championships last month, Williams beat the top wrestlers from Russia, Japan and Germany before losing 7-3 to Joanna Piasecka of Poland. ``I wrestled her last year at the worlds, and I beat her 8-0,'' Williams said. ``This year, the draw was tough.'' Her other claim to fame is appearing on ``American Gladiators  This article or section contains information about a scheduled .It may contain non-definitive information based on commercials, a website or interviews. .'' Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. coach Larry Mortensen is very happy Williams is around. The Lancers graduated just two wrestlers from last season's team and will be looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. their fourth Marmonte League title this decade. ``It will be excellent for them,'' Mortensen said. ``For the lightweights, to wrestle with her will be a challenge.'' Mortensen also hopes Williams' presence will entice girls to participate. None have shown at recent summer workouts, although Thousand Oaks has had girls wrestle in the past. Still, female wrestling is on the rise nationally. According to figures provided by USA Wrestling, women's membership in the national governing body has increased from 760 in 1994 to 1,733 in 1996. The National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations reported there were 1,164 female wrestlers in 1996, the last year figures are available. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Teacher Shannon Williams is a world-class wrestler. Evan Yee / Daily News |
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