Senior Khalil Williams made history when he became the first wrestler from McNair to win a gold medal at the state wrestling tournament. Williams and Southwest DeKalb sophomore Abdur-Rahman Yasir both took home gold medals in their respective state tournaments on Feb. 16 in Macon.

Williams finished the season with a 56-1 record after defeating Ringgold’s Sam Shepard by pin fall in the Class AAA 120-pound weight class championship round. Williams said it felt good to win his first gold medal and make history at his school.

“I worked hard for this for a lot of years and it feels good to accomplish this,” he said.

Williams defeated Morgan County’s Jacob McAlister by pin fall in the opening round of the tournament and then knocked off St. Pius’ Quinn Pergrine 7-4 in the second round to reach the final against Shepard.

Yasir won gold in the Class AAAAA 145-pound weight class after defeating Ware County’s Isaac King by pin fall. Yasir, pin fall winner in his first round match over Effingham’s A.J. Bird on Feb. 14, picked up a pair of victories on Feb. 15 to earn his way into the title match.

Second round opponent Ian Phifer of Richmond Hill fell to Yasir 19-4 in a technical fall and third round opponent Caleb King of Loganville was dispatched with a 10-3 decision.

Yasir finished his season with a 42-1 record.

Five DeKalb wrestlers also placed in the Class AAAAA state tournament.

Stephenson’s Stephen Wylie (152-pound weight class) and Darian Perry (170-pound weight class) both placed third in their respective weight class. Dunwoody’s Sunny Sharma placed fourth in the 113-pound weight class, Southwest DeKalb’s Muadh As-Siddiq placed fifth in the 106-pound weight class, and Arabia Mountain’s Alema Favors placed fifth in the 126-pound weight class.