Carbondale High School's Williard named to IHSA All-State Academic Team

A Carbondale wrestler was among 26 members of the 2018 IHSA All-State Academic Team honored Monday evening.

In the classroom at Carbondale Community High School, Zach Williard has earned a 4.28 GPA on a 4.0 scale, with high honors every year. He is an Illinois State Scholar, and he scored a 33 on his ACT.

"Zach is truly gifted academically," writes Michael W. Butler, Williard's government teacher as well as his soccer coach.

Williard also has put in four years of student council, and he was elected treasurer of the senior class at Carbondale. He also participates in National Honor Society, Lifesavers and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, where he is a lesson leader.

As an athlete, Williard has balanced four years of wrestling, including two as captain, with four years of soccer, where he served as captain once. He has seen a great deal of success in wrestling, but it didn't come easily, even though he qualified for the state tournament as a sophomore.

"Unfortunately," he recalls, "I lost both of my matches."

He didn't stop there, however.

"These losses taught me persistence and how to overcome adversity," he said. "I was motivated to work harder and improve during the off season."

He returned to the state tournament as a junior, determined to place.

"I wrestled my best matches of the year and ended up placing third," he said.

In February, Williard wrestled his way to state for the third time, once again finishing his season with a victory and taking home the third-place medal.

In addition to that state medal, Williard has been named First Team All-Conference all four years in wrestling, and he qualified for national competition in Greco-Roman wrestling. In soccer, he earned First Team All-Conference honors as a senior and Second Team All-Conference as a junior, and he took home his school's Soccer Senior Leadership Award.

"Zach is one of the most unique people I have ever met," Butler said. "Quiet by nature at first, he is actually bold, original and filled with life once you get to know him. He truly cares for those around him and is an outstanding and encouraging teammate."