Highland wrestler Carlos Valenzuela has put together a stellar career on the mat, and he added a milestone to his impressive resume earlier this month. Valenzuela picked up his 100th career victory. He tells KCII Sports it was a special moment, but not really one he saw coming.

“I didn’t really know I was creeping up on my 100th, so it was kind of a surprise, too,” Valenzuela says. “I don’t really look at my record as much, but as soon I saw my brother walk in, and I saw that he had a sign with him, but it was folded over. I was just like, ‘Well, something special’s going to happen.'”

Valenzuela says the feeling of reaching that achievement is one of extreme satisfaction.

“It actually just makes me really proud of myself,” he says. “It makes me feel just like all of my hard work is finally paying off, and all the time I spent on the mat over the off-seasons and during the regular season, it’s just paying off, finally.”

Coming off a trip to the state championships last season, Valenzuela has continued to dominate on the mat. The senior won the Fort Madison Invitational title at 132 pounds his last time out, raising his record to 21-1 this season.