Seth Williams figures things out pretty fast.

Less than a year ago, the 14-year-old Rock Falls freshman picked up a Fender Stratocaster. Today he’s able to pull off blistering riffs by the likes of British power metal band DragonForce and Metallica. And we’re not talking mid-’90s alternative Metallica.
Think double-bass-laden, mind-numbingly fast mid-’80s Metallica.

Oh, and he figured out the whole cross country thing pretty quick, too. After joining the team a couple of weeks into the season, Williams was posting 21-minute times. Now he’s finishing off 3-mile courses in the 17:20 range.