Promise kept: Central High boys volleyball coach lets team shave mustache after D-II title
A tale of brotherly love told by Darin Williams hit home for his Central High boys volleyball team.
He gathered the team three weeks ago and shared a story about his brother, Wayne, who encouraged him to grow a mustache in 1985. Wayne Williams was dying because of health-related issues due to alcohol.
“It devastated our family,” Darin Williams said, while also telling the team his brother explained the suggestion of the facial hair.
“‘You’ll look more mature, more older and more distinguished,’” he recalls Wayne telling him.
Darin Wlliams went along with the idea, but his brother died before it grew out.
Flash forward 37 years and the mustache was still there, at least until Thursday after the Grizzlies defeated Arroyo Grande 23-25, 25-16, 25-20, 23-25, 15-12 for the Central Section Division II championship.
It’s the first section title for the Grizzlies, and Williams had told the team that if they completed the championship run, the players could shave it off.
True to his word, that is what happened.
“He was always my protector and my big brother and I always felt like he’s there in spirit for me and looking over me,” Williams said.
“When the opportunity came to honor him and bring back some good memories of him, I thought, you know what if I tell the boys the story. It took them to heart and we bonded. I told them, ‘If we win it all, you guys can shave off my mustache.’ They got excited about three weeks ago and we made the run.”
Kameron Owens led the way for the Grizzlies, finishing with 26 kills. Marcos Mendoza added seven and James Arriba six.
The Grizzlies started off strong in the nonleague season, then went 0-10 in the Tri-River Athletic Conference before launching their big playoff run.
“Relief and exhaustion,” Williams said of his post-title match reaction. “I’ve been coaching since 1985. I lost two semifinals (Washington Union girls volleyball and Central boys volleyball). I’ve been coaching a lot of years and not quite making it. I’m kind of like Charles Barkley. You’re the guy coaching a lot of those years and not winning it. Coaches at Central won championships and I’m the guy that doesn’t have one. Always something on my mind. Will I ever win a section title?
“They were like, ‘This one is for you coach.’ They care about you and are learning about my experience and my goals, as well as their goals.”
Box score
Central Section Division II championship
Central 3, Arroyo Grande 2
23-25, 25-16, 25-20, 23-25, 15-12. Central, Marco Mendoza 7 kills; Travis Lloyd 3 kills; James Arriba 6 kills; Harveer Dhaliwal 2 kills; Nick Howard 4 kills; Kameron Owens 26 kills; Mario Garza 1 kill.
Central roster
1 Anthony Vang
2 Carsen Xiong
3 Dominick Thatsanaphone
4 Andrew Xiong
5 Nick Howard
6 Kameron Owens
7 Sky Zhao
9 Mario Garza
10 Joshua Xiong
11 Harveer Dhaliwal
12 Micah Logan
13 James Arriba
14 Spencer Vang
15 Travis Lloyd
16 Marco Mendoza
