Five-time All-American Kinzie Williams focuses on the future after injuries likely derail her high school career

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AMERICAN FALLS – It takes a lot to earn the title of wrestling All-American.

Hours of grueling practice and training, weights, running, and for some, perhaps the hardest part is cutting weight. And that’s just the start.

Wrestling is not for the faint of heart.

American Falls senior-to-be Kinzie Williams grew up in a wrestling family with her dad, uncles, cousins, and even her grandpa having successful wrestling careers.

She’s the first girl in the family to take on the sport.

So how’s that going?

It depends on where you start the story.

If we start this year, Williams arguably comes off the best season of any high school girl in the state.

She won the 115-pound state title in the winter, finishing 38-0.

She capped the season this summer with a runner-up finish at the prestigious Fargo national tournament, earning her fifth All-American honor.

Five-time All-American.

Not bad for someone who’s only been wrestling for four years.

But there was a lot more going on behind the scenes on the way to that honor.

“It was super painful,” Williams said of battling through injuries late in the season. “It was a rough time.”

A torn labrum in her shoulder and a bulging disc in her back forced Williams to change the way she had to train.

“Painful” and a “rough time” only begin to describe the preparation for Fargo.

“I still wanted to win Fargo,” Williams said. “That was always my goal. With training … I still knew I could win it. I was just mentally pretending I wasn’t injured.”

Did we mention wrestling is not for the faint of heart?

“I remember at practice being in so much pain,” she said. “My body just hurt … When I was at the tournament I felt ‘when you’re in the match you won’t feel it. You’re going to have enough adrenaline to win.’ The second I got off the mat I was in a lot of pain.”

Advancing to the championship match at Fargo is the pinnacle for any high school wrestler.

Williams said while she was disappointed at not winning the national title, she was proud to earn runner-up, especially considering what it took for her to reach the podium against the best wrestlers in the country at Fargo.

As the celebration fades, the story moves forward.

Williams said she will have surgery on her shoulder next month and undergo physical therapy on her bulging disc.

The recovery is expected to take some time, so Williams’ high school career is likely over.

She said she may try to return to wrestling by the end of the winter high school season to defend her state title if she’s cleared, but that’s not really the priority.

“I think I already established myself at the high school level,” Williams said, noting the plan is to get healthy and prepare for major meets like the US Open and try to make a US team. A return trip to Fargo is also a goal.

Williams has already competed in College Open tournaments where she beat college wrestlers, so she’s ready for the tougher competition at the next level.

As for a long-range goals, wrestling in college is obviously an option.

“I always wanted to wrestle,” Williams said. “In eighth grade I knew I wanted to go as far as I could.”