In a class by himself

Eric Jones doesn't care about standing out in a crowd.

You won't see him in a flashy letterman's jacket or boasting about his accomplishments.

"If it's that big of a deal, they'll already know," he said.

But Jones is in a class by himself when it comes to 152-pound wrestlers in the state. The Auburn Riverside High senior is ranked No. 1 at his weight statewide, regardless of school classification.

He won the Class 3A title at 145 pounds last year, finishing with a 36-1 record, and is 31-0 entering this weekend's South Puget Sound League 3A subregional tournament.

But Jones isn't even the best-known wrestler at his high school.

That would be close friend Michael Mangrum, his longtime wrestling partner and a two-time defending state champion who is often in the limelight.

Jones couldn't care less.

"That's not a problem for me," he said. "It kind of leaves me under the radar. Some people don't know me, so I shock them I guess. I'm kind of under Michael's wing."

Bob Jones, Eric's father and athletic director at Auburn High, said his son is genuinely humble.

"He doesn't bring attention to himself," the elder Jones said. "If you see him walking down the hall [at school], you wouldn't know who he is. He's done all of these things, but you'd never know it. ... It makes it pretty easy to live with him."

Eric Jones, who began wrestling at age 5, has placed nationally seven times, including second in freestyle wrestling two years ago.

He was part of a team consisting of top wrestlers from around the state last summer and spent time at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. He has a scholarship to the University of Wyoming.

All of that comes from hours of hard work, his father said. Eric Jones and Mangrum were in the wrestling room every day last June and July.

"It's been in incredible time commitment," Bob Jones said.

While older brother Kyle was a three-sport athlete in high school, Eric Jones narrowed his focus to wrestling midway through his freshman year.

When Auburn Riverside was a Class 4A school, Jones won subregional and regional titles at 130 pounds as a ninth-grader, but was disappointed with his 1-2 record at state. He wasn't satisfied with his fourth-place showing at 135 the following year.

"We had to pick up the pieces," his father said. "He's always had high expectations."

Jones has lived up to them the past two years.

"He placed fourth as a sophomore and just took off from there," Riverside coach Steve Mead said. "Ever since then, he's been one of those untouchables."

Jones put together an amazing run to close his junior season, pinning all of his opponents at subregional, regional and state.

This season, his goal is simple: perfection.

"Going undefeated is really what I want," Jones said.

But anyone who wants to hear about it will have to ask.

Sandy Ringer: 206-718-1512 or sringer@seattletimes.com