PROCTORVILLE — For C.J. Graham, it’s all about progression.
The Fairland Dragons’ senior wrestler is headed back to The Schottenstein Center for the state meet this weekend and his fourth straight season that includes state runner-up last year in the 126-pound weight class.
For Graham, each year has been different with him adding a little more success, experience and wisdom along the way. Now, with three previous trips to the state meet and an outstanding senior regular season, he will combine all that progression and look to take that final step to a state championship.
“I’m taking every moment in. That’s all I’ve ever done,” said Graham. “My freshman year, just being able to make it to the state I was so excited. After that, my goal was you gotta place.
“Then, I wanted to make it to the finals (as a junior) and I did. I just wanted to place high then sixth. Now, the only option is to win.”
While Graham is physically healthy, he said mental preparation is the most important thing he must overcome now.
“Last year after my (finals) match, I told my dad I just wasn’t mentally prepared,” said Graham.
“We got off the mat and I was like, ‘dude, I don’t even know what happened.’ I look a little into who I’m going to wrestle, but not really. I just focus on knowing that in my head if I wrestle my best match, nobody is able to wrestle with me. I just take each match one at a time.
“This is my last tournament, so take every moment in, enjoy it, and wrestle as hard as I can and know that I did all that I could this week to win.”
Graham has had an amazing four-year ride in wrestling. After racking up 100 wins in middle school, he set another goal as he entered high school.
Graham has a 199-26 record and needs one win at the state meet to make him only the 27th wrestler to accumulate 200 career wins in Ohio high school wrestling.
“It’s just an honor. I’ve done it my whole life. You set the smaller goals and it’s nice at the end of your career to see if you make it to these big goals or see the smaller goals,” said Graham.
“In middle school when I got to 100 wins, I thought that was crazy. That pushed me to, ‘Oh wow! I could get 200 in high school. So, that was my goal and it’s just nice being able to see the goal I made in the eighth grade for high school finally coming true.”
Graham was 47-9 as a freshman when he wrestled in the 106-pound division although he actually only weighed 100 pounds.
As a sophomore, he wrestled at 113 and was 53-8. He has been in the 126-pound division the past two seasons.
A remarkable fact concerning his 199 wins is that 141 have been by pin.
Graham has talked to a few college coaches and he said there are several coaches who are interested. However, he has an aunt who works at Marshall University and deals with scholarships. His aunt is trying to help him get some scholarships in order for him to attend college there.
“If I was to take that route, I would be able to stay around here and help coach because I enjoy being able to give back to my community for everything they’ve done for me,” said Graham.
“But it’s been a goal since I was young to be able to wrestle in college. It’s killing me both ways as to which one to pick. But at the end of the day, I know — I’m a big believer in the Lord —and I know He’ll help me choose the right path for me.”
Graham said you have to love something to do it and he has always loved wrestling. But he admits that his main goal is to get his schooling paid for in order for him to be able to obtain a degree in the field he plans to make a living.
“It’s going to be cool to say look at all the things I did in college wrestling, but then again if it causes me to not be able to academically not do well in college, then it’s not worth doing it.”
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