But he probably doesn't have to worry about bullies.

He isn't getting stuffed in lockers.

No “kick me” signs will be taped to his back.

Perhaps it's because the 15-year-old sophomore is an all-around nice guy, or maybe Grubbs' schoolmates don't want to suffer the same fate that's befallen just about everyone that's stood opposite him on a wrestling mat this year.

Grubbs has compiled a 24-1 record this season, taking first place in three major California high school tournaments and earning a No. 5 state ranking in the 103-pound division.

“It's been amazing to see his growth in the last couple of years,” said LCC head wrestling coach Dwayne Buth. “Heck, I remember when he barely had a stance.”

It didn't take long for the scrappy sophomore to establish himself in the sport's lightest weight class. In his freshman year, Grubbs won the CIF-San Diego Section and Masters titles.

U-T file photo Grubbs consults with coach Daniel Ramirez during a match at last year's Jim Londos Memorial Tournament. "It's been amazing to see his growth in the last couple of years," said LCC head wrestling coach Dwayne Buth.

Although failing to place in the state championships, Grubbs' impressive freshman season put him on the wrestling map.

“It's pretty exciting to be a CIF and Masters champ at his age,” Buth said. Grubbs' meteoric rise in the sport isn't particularly surprising, though. The sophomore has quite the wrestling pedigree.

Grubbs' father, Michio, introduced the sport to his younger brothers, John and Mike, when he was in high school. His siblings took an immediate liking to the sport, and excelled at it.

John won a state championship in 1986, while wrestling for El Camino High, and Mike was an All-American in 1995 at Cal State Fullerton, where he took fifth place in the NCAA Championships.

Despite the wrestling ties in the Grubbs family, Bryan said he was never pushed into the sport.

“They never really talked about it much,” he said. “I knew they were good and I saw videos, but that was it.”

As many kids do, Grubbs tried just about every sport under the sun – baseball, basketball, soccer – but in the summer after his seventh-grade year, he decided to give the family business a shot.

“At first it was fun,” he said. “But then I started getting serious about it.” The summer before Grubbs' freshman year was the first time Buth saw his future star on the mat.

Grubbs tangled with Buth's LCC 135-pounder, Ben Alei. Alei won the match 12-8, but Buth saw the young wrestler's potential.

“He was just a young kid,” Buth said. “His motor was running a mile a minute, but he didn't know what to do.

“(Alei and he) are good buddies now. Every once in a while Bryan will grab him and say he wants a rematch.”

As good an athlete as Grubbs is, Buth said his intelligence sets him apart from other wrestlers. Taking a mix of honors and college prep classes, the sophomore has brought the same approach to the mat that he does to the classroom.

“He's a sponge,” Buth said. “For most kids it takes a lot of repetition. He takes it in, and then performs it.”

Grubbs' mix of athleticism, determination and smarts has led to a near-perfect 2007-2008 season so far.

The young wrestler's only loss of the year came at the El Dorado Invitational on Dec. 1 in the 112-pound class.

Estevan Cabanas, who is the No. 2 112-pounder in the state, pinned Grubbs in the tournament final.

But Grubbs made a bid for his ability at 112 a month later, winning the prestigious Jim Londos Memorial Tournament at Orange Glen on Jan. 5.

The young star's biggest win of the year came at the Western Invitational Tournament in his natural 103-pound division. Grubbs shut out Vincent Perez – then ranked No. 3 in the state – 3-0 in the tournament final.

Despite the big win and a sparkling season record, Grubbs remains one spot below Perez in the latest high school rankings.

But the sophomore doesn't seem bothered by it.

“I try not to think about it,” Grubbs said. “Rankings don't mean anything.” Statements like these seem strange coming out of the mouth of a 15-year-old, but it's nothing new to people who know him.

“He's very mature for his age,” Buth said. “He knows when to turn it on and when to turn it off. That's a big thing for a kid his age.”

Because of his precociousness as well as his talent and success on the mat, Grubbs has emerged as a leader on a team filled with gifted upperclassmen.Although he's not yet comfortable with the vocal part of leadership, Grubbs leads by example. Buth said his work ethic is one of the best he's ever seen. “Since he's one of the best wrestlers on the team, whether he likes it or not he's going to be a leader,” Buth said.

With the CIF and Masters tournaments just around the corner and the state championships looming on Feb. 29 in Bakersfield, Grubbs plans to lead the Mavericks to another successful postseason.”

“I want to be a CIF champ and a Masters champ again this year,” he said. “I'm hoping to place in the top three in state.

“(A state title) is more of a long-term goal, but it can happen I think; if not this year, than next year or the year after.”

Lucky for Grubbs, he's got plenty of time.

 Matt Crosson: (760) 752-6477; matt.crosson@tlnews.net