WAVERLY - Eric Thompson has witnessed both the surreal and the sublime during his prep wrestling career. Now, he simply hopes to end his days at Waverly-Shell Rock in style.

The senior took home a state title last season. And, he's currently ranked No. 1 in the nation at heavyweight.

But, above all else, his most unreal moment occurred last August when Cael Sanderson - Mr. 159-0 - sat in Thompson's living room, giving a sales pitch for the Iowa State Cyclones.

Thompson bought in, no bait-and-switch gimmicks required.

"It was pretty cool," said the senior, "having an Olympic champ sitting in your living room asking you to come to his school."

Thompson's has been a life immersed in wrestling. As a result, the Shell Rock resident has become an imposing figure for opponents.

"He's been around it his whole life, he's had great training opportunities, and he's competed nationwide," noted Go-Hawks coach Rick Caldwell of Thompson, whose cousin, Tolly, is a former national Freestyle Wrestler of the Year.

"He's competed against the best kids out there," Caldwell added. "Because of that, he has become tough to beat."

Thompson, also an all-state center for Waverly-Shell Rock's district champion football squad in the fall, is currently 11-0.

And the 245-pounder's assimilation to heavyweight has surprised precisely no one in the Go-Hawks camp.

"Nothing surprises me with him," Caldwell explained. "He is very, very talented. He has so many skills he can attack you with. He can attack your legs … he can scramble.

"He has the whole package."

Perhaps. But Thompson plans on being a first-class parcel upon arrival in Ames next year. Thus, he knows he needs to add bulk.

"I need to get bigger. That's definitely a pressing issue," said the heavyweight, who hopes to weigh around 265 a year from now. "I (also) need to get ready to learn how to wrestle like a heavyweight, and just setting up my shots."

Sanderson will expect the Shell-Rock native to arrive in Ames as a first-class product. That fact heaps added pressure on the shoulders of Thompson, one of 12 ranked wrestlers on a Go-Hawks team that was ranked among the top five nationally in multiple preseason polls.

No matter. Thompson, according to his coach, thrives in even the most stressful of situations.

"There's pressure, definitely, but we just go out there and have fun," insisted Thompson, the Go-Hawks' resident comedian. "We work hard and have confidence in our training, so we know we can step out there and compete."

Thompson's senior campaign began with a pair of publications ranking him No. 1 nationally at heavyweight.

Now he plans on authoring his own ending, with a second straight trek to the top step of the medal stand in Des Moines.

And from here on out he plans on producing a similar plot, every time out:

"Pin everybody," he said succinctly. "Step on the mat and be ready to dominate."

Contact Kelly Beaton at (319) 291-1456 or kelly.beaton@wcfcourier.com