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Brandon junior Eric Grajales is regarded as one of the nation’s top prep wrestlers, and that’s a title he’s proud to have. Grajales, a two-time state champion who picked up his 200th career win earlier this season, improved to 42-0 on Saturday after winning the 130-pound title at the 24th annual Tony Ippolito Memorial Tournament.

What’s it like walking into a room and getting ready to wrestle knowing that everyone in the stands knows who you are and knows your credentials?

It’s exciting. I like having my name known and people knowing who I am. Then again, sometimes it’s a burden. I don’t want someone to say, ‘Oh, I heard about this kid and he’s really good,’ and then have a close match with someone and them say, ‘Uhh,’ and not exceed their expectations. I always want to walk into a gym and have people think one thing, but then totally amaze them. That’s always been my goal wherever I go.

Would you rather be known or would you rather work in the shadows?

I’d definitely rather be known. I like where I’m at, and I’m just working as hard as I can to get higher.

What do you like better: high school season or all the other tournaments you go to year-round?

When I’m out of the country wrestling Greco Roman, wrestling guys that speak a different language, it’s a totally different feeling. You can’t imagine that unless you’ve been there.

Speaking of all the other tournaments, what’s coming up for you after the high school season ends?

This year, two weeks after state ends, I’ll be going back to Bulgaria to wrestle in a junior international tournament at 57 kilos, which is at 125 pounds roughly. It’s like a pre-FILA World Tournament. I went to the tournament last year and placed fifth. This year I’m a little big bigger and hoping to do a little bit better, get a medal maybe there, and just get ready for worlds. I’ll also be going to Las Vegas for the FILA Juniors and I’ll be wrestling Senior Nationals at 55 kilos, and if I place in the top seven, which I think I have a chance at doing, I’ll wrestle the Olympic Trials.

The last question I have for you is, after having a few weeks since that loss, what are your thoughts about “The Streak” going down and being on the team it went down against?

It had to end somewhere, but you know what, at first I was a little bit depressed and I couldn’t get it out of my head. A couple days after the loss I still was a little bit shaky. But now, it’s done. It’s over with. I’ve got to live with it. Now, the way I see it is, I’m the team captain, I’m the one that’s got to step up and say, ‘Look you guys, it’s not over. We’re not done. We still have a state tournament to win.’ And I’ll be glad to be a senior captain next year when we start the new streak.

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