Zolah Williams was one of the best in Missouri this past season.
The freshman won the 105-pound Class 1 title in February for Kearney.
Since then, she’s continued to rack up wins no matter where she wrestled. The latest success came at the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota, in the middle of July.
“My goal was like everybody else wanting to win it, but in reality I just wanted to be an All-American,” she said. “Being an All-American is an honor and I am really happy with myself knowing all the training paid off.”
She was at Fargo for the first time and said the atmosphere was unlike any other tournament she had competed in yet.
Competing in the 16U 110-pound bracket, she went 6-2. Her two losses were against a runner-up and third-place finisher.
She picked up tech fall wins in her first two matches, facing Alicia Marfileno from Nebraska and Kielly Kasal from Iowa. A cradle-to-pin against Guilliana Latshaw from Pennsylvania sent her to the quarterfinals.
Williams’ win streak ended with a 6-2 loss to Audrey Cunningham from Texas in the quarterfinals.
“My quarters I really want back because I know I would go into the match more prepared,” she said of the loss to the eventual weight class runner-up.
Williams closed with a 2-1 mark and won her last two by decisions. She beat Peggy Susan Dean from Colorado, a U.S. Open champion, by a 6-2 decision in the seventh-place match.
Dean was a state runner-up in 5A in Colorado this past season.
Williams was close to wrestling for a different place, but lost by a pin against Daphney Gomez from Arizona. Williams raced out to a 9-0 lead, but Gomez scored eight points in the final minute and got a fall with 8 seconds left.
“I really think any other day that match would’ve been mine if I would’ve stayed patient,” Williams said of the setback.
Gomez was a Pre-Season Nationals folkstyle champion at 14U 105 pounds before last high school season. Gomez took third in this bracket.
“We’re obviously very proud of what she accomplished,” Kearney coach Nick Ward said. “Fargo is the toughest tournament in the country, and earning All-American honors with a 7th-place finish is a significant achievement, especially this early in her high school career. What stands out most is the way she competed. She wrestled with confidence, stayed composed through a long tournament, and bounced back after adversity. Those are qualities that will continue to serve her well.At the same time, if you know Zolah, you know she’s not satisfied with 7th. She has high standards for herself and was disappointed not to be wrestling for a national title. That’s one of the things that makes her special. She appreciates what she accomplished, but she’s already focused on where she wants to go next.”
She is the fourth Kearney High School standout to be a Fargo All-American, joining Emalie Olson (2017), Lexie Cole (2019, 2021) and Carli Vargas (2024)
Williams was 43-2 during the high school season for the Lady Bulldogs.
She carried the success into the offseason.
Williams took first place in 16U Greco-Roman and 16U freestyle at the Missouri USA State meet in May.
At the Women’s National Duals, she went 4-1 in freestyle and 5-1 in Greco-Roman. She lost to Dean in that tournament before getting revenge in Fargo.