Solon Wrestling Coach Blake Williams is this year’s Solon Beef Days Celebrity Grand Marshal. Thank you, Coach Williams, for bringing hometown pride to the Solon Community!
Growing up:
Blake grew up in Decorah, Iowa and attended Wartburg College where he was All-American and a member of the National Championship Wrestling team at Wartburg.
Family:
Blake and wife, Emy, have 2 children, Ashlyn – 11 and Teague – 9. Emy teaches 3rd grade at Solon Lakeview Elementary and is the head coach for Solon Cross Country.
Career highlights:
- 350 career dual wins
- 11 State Duals appearances
- 9 top 5 finishes in State
- 2017 State Wrestling Champions
- 2017 State Dual Runner-up
- 2006 & 2017 Iowa Wrestling Coach of the Year
Blake’s comments on his impact as a coach:
“The ultimate highlights are helping young men set goals and guiding them to achieve these goals through hard work and commitment. The best honor is when I see former athletes I coached go on to be successful in their profession, as husbands, fathers, and community members. My hope is that I had a small influence on them and that the lessons they learned from wrestling has carried over into the rest of their lives.”
Favorite Beef Days traditions:
Blake’s favorite Beef Days traditions include working the Bags Tourney on Saturday following the parade, and he enjoys visiting with many past students and athletes during Beef Days.