University of Virginia Library

Under Caruso's Tutelage

Williams Becomes Top-Flight Wrestler

By Bob Cullen
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

If Dave Williams were a boxer,
he would be known as a counter puncher a
man that rarely makes
the first move, but who can effectively
counter any offensive
thrusts by the opposition. That's
the way Williams has worked this
year on the way to compiling a
6-1-1 record that is currently the
leading mark on the wrestling
squad.

Williams is one of the first of
what will probably be a long line
of Virginia wrestlers to benefit
from the tutelage of first-year coach
Mike Caruso. Last season at 115
pounds, Williams compiled a
mediocre record, and one thing
that Coach Caruso does not enjoy
is mediocrity.

Thus it was that one afternoon
in pre-season workouts, the coach
got down on the mat with his
pupil and proceeded to teach him
first hand how to go about winning
wrestling matches.

The lesson stuck, and since that
day Williams, along with the rest
of the Cavalier lightweights, has
been a consistent bright spot in
the wrestling picture.

On the mat, the 123 pounder
is a study in fluid motion, dodging,
clutching briefly, then dodging
again, waiting patiently for his opponent
to commit himself and provide
an opening. He often wrestles
through an entire first period without
a point being scored by either
man.

But that fluid deftness belies the
fact that Williams rides tenaciously
when he does take his man
down-he often rolls up more than
four minutes in the up position.
And his ride is a punishing one,
the type that wears the stamina
of the recipient.

In the eyes of his coaches Williams'
strong points have also become
his faults. He knows that
his riding and defensive ability can
carry him through a bout with
all but the best of his opponents,
and the knowledge seems to deter
him from mounting a determined
offense. All Virginia wrestlers
should have such shortcomings.