Wetumpka heavyweight wrestler Willie Cox has already made a name for himself as he claimed the 2023 AHSAA Class 6A state championship in February, but he added to his already-impressive resume earlier this winter.
In a match against Pike Road in December, Cox notched his 100th win of his high school wrestling career. Now the senior has his sights set on a second state championship.
Entering January, Cox ended the 2023 year with a 16-1 overall record for his senior season. He is 16-0 against wrestlers in Alabama, and has continued his undefeated streak against Alabama wrestlers.
Dating back to last season, Cox is 59-3 with all three losses coming from out-of-state wrestlers.
“He’s definitely the top heavyweight in the state,” Wetumpka coach Josh Highland said. “That’s not me being biased. He’s proven it with the numbers. That question has been answered. He is the top guy, and he wrestles like it.”
Cox’s road to a second championship ring has been as tough as anyone across the state.
Just in the last month, he has faced top wrestlers from across the state and won every match.
He faced Bob Jones’ Gideon Roll, the No. 3-ranked wrestler in Class 7A. That ended in a 15-6 major decision for Cox.
At the Swede Umbach Invitational, he faced the Nos. 6- and 1-ranked wrestler in Class 7A, and he won both of those via fall 81 seconds into the match and a 1-0 decision, respectively.
His last match came against a Top 5 opponent in Class 6A, and he walked away with a 3-2 win in the championship match.
In the last two seasons, not only did he win the 6A title but he also beat Elmore County’s Myles Eyerly, the 5A champion, and he knocked off the 7A state runner-up from last season.
“I want to make a statement and show that I’m the best in Alabama,” Cox said. I want to show that if they took away classifications, I would still win. To prove that, you have to beat the top guys and make a statement. I want to be one of the most dominant heavyweights in Alabama. When people think about Alabama heavyweights, I want them to think about me.”
