For Bonner Springs Braves sophomore Erick Ratliff it all began at the age of seven when his father, Rick Ratliff, introduced him to the sport of wrestling.

Today, nine years after stepping on the mat for the first time, Ratliff has quietly become one of the top 103-pound wrestlers in the state.

Ratliff enters Thursday's home dual against Ottawa and Topeka Seaman with a 14-3 record. He has won the Gardner-Edgerton, Bonner Springs, and Blue Valley Northwest tournaments.

All this after going just 14-18 a year ago in the same weight class. Of course last year, Ratliff weighed about 97 pounds. Now, he is a true 103-pounder and the results speak for themselves.

"I'm a lot bigger than I was last year," said Ratliff. "It enabled me to win a couple of matches right off, gave me confidence and I started wrestling better."

Braves coach Dan Burns also sees a vast improvement from a year ago.

"He is bigger, faster, stronger and wrestling with more confidence," Burns said. "He is by far one of the most improved wrestlers on the team."

Perhaps even more impressive is Ratliff's work ethic and will to succeed. At the beginning of the season, Ratliff made a concerted effort to improve on his feet. Not only did he improve, but Ratliff has become dominant from the neutral position, accumulating 21 takedowns as opposed to being taken down just three times. He has gotten the first takedown in 16 of 17 matches.

"I wasn't very good on my feet last year; I think I was taken down about 31 times," said Ratliff. "Coach Burns has emphasized being good on your feet driving and finishing. That has made me a better wrestler."

Ratliff's latest victories occurred when he won the 19-team Blue Valley Northwest Invitational. In the process, he defeated two opponents who were ranked in the state Goddard's Tyler Adcock, 14-3 in the semifinals and Wichita West's Raul Rios, 6-4 in the finals.

Despite all the success, Ratliff sees room for improvement.

"I need to be more consistent. I have been struggling riding sometimes," he said. "I am trying new moves-sometimes they work and sometimes they don't."

Just how far can Ratliff go this year? According to Burns, the sky is the limit. "He can go as far as he wants," he said. "He has really picked it up and I don't see any let-up coming."

Ratliff is not only successful on the mat, but is an honor roll student at Bonner Springs High School. He is held in high regard by his peers and teachers. According to Erick's Accounting teacher, Deena Burns, the same qualities that make him successful on the mat make him successful in the classroom.

"Besides being an excellent student in Accounting, he is never absent and has a great attitude," said Mrs. Burns.

Ratliff has the uncanny ability to be a silent leader. "He is quiet," said Coach Burns. "He just goes about his business and works hard."

Ratliff knows the next month is pivotal. The next four tournaments, WYCO, league, regionals, and state are what define a wrestler. "I'd like to win regionals and place extremely high at state, possibly even win state," Ratliff said.

Down the stretch Ratliff said he will continue to rely on his biggest role model, his father.

"He got me started," he said. "He is always showing me new moves and different techniques that will help me out. He watches my opponents matches and tells me what to look for."

With his father's help and his own desire, who knows how far this sophomore could go.