Drops of blood, sweat and tears that have been shed throughout the years lend to the mystique of "the bomb shelter," the affectionate nickname given to Ledyard High School's wrestling room.

There's also a scent, according to head coach Allyn Quibble, that Colonel wrestlers never forget.

"It does have a certain smell to it," Quibble explained. "I guess it just adds to the aura of it. It's just really nice to be down there. For those who've been away and then go back to the bomb shelter, the first thing that hits you is the smell and you think ... 'I remember this.'"

And then there are the walls, which are adorned with the names of every state class champion, State Open champion and New England champion in Ledyard's storied wrestling history.

That list includes Quibble, a two-time State Open champion (2000, 2001). And this winter, his first as head coach, Quibble proudly added two more names to the list — Class S champions Connor Doran (113 pounds) and Brayden Grim (160).

Grim joins his brother Colin, the 2013 Class M and State Open 182-pound champion.

"That's one of the coolest things in the bomb shelter ... all the champions," Brayden Grim said. "My brother's name is there and now I'm up with him on that board."

They also share another honor. Brayden Grim is The Day's 2020 All-Area Wrestler of the Year, the same award his brother earned seven seasons ago.

"Brayden grew quite a bit in every aspect," Quibble said. "Overall, he's a great kid anyway, but he has a good head on shoulders, he's smart about things and he stays focused. Toward the end of season, you could see that drive in him."

Grim dominated the competition in winning his first Eastern Connecticut Conference and Class S state titles. He finished 46-4 with two of his losses coming against Brookfield's Zahir McLean-Felix, including a 3-1 overtime defeat in the State Open semifinals.

It was a devastating loss for the senior, whose season-long goal was to end his career standing atop the State Open podium. But Grim showed his maturity, that "drive" Quibble saw in him all season and posted two impressive victories in the consolation bracket to finish third and earn a trip to the New England tournament, where he went 1-2.

"(McLean-Felix) was really good," Quibble said. "I felt like Brayden could have had that match, but it just didn't go our way. That happens when you get two good wrestlers at that level. I told him, 'just wrestle back. You can still get to New Englands,' and he did just that. I was proud of him."

It capped an impressive season for Grim, who also made The Day's All-Area football team as a linebacker and was a dual-threat quarterback leading the Ledyard offense.

But Grim's fairy tale season didn't begin at the start of the school year. He spent the summer lifting weights, conditioning and honing his wrestling skills at several local clubs, although his first stop was right in town at a gym operated by T.J. Hepburn, the ex-Ledyard All-American.

"The biggest thing T.J. did was reinforce the basics with me," Grim said. "He said, 'Perfect the basics. That's one of the most important things you can do.'"

That message stuck with Grim and Quibble took notice the moment Grim entered the bomb shelter this winter.

"The self-improvement was obvious," Quibble said. "He put in a lot of work in the offseason to get where he was. T.J. was an All-American, one of the most decorated wrestlers around, and to have someone like him right here in town is incredible."

Quibble is proud to be a rich part of Ledyard's wrestling pedigree but made a point — especially as a first-year coach — not to allow it to become an intimidating factor.

"I told them, 'Listen, I know there's a lot of history down here in the bomb shelter,'" he said. "And yes, I did point to the wall as kind of a motivator, but mostly I didn't stress anything other than wrestle one match at a time, don't underestimate your opponent and don't look too far ahead.

"You've got to put in the work to get up there. If your goal is just to get through practice, that's not going to work. Your goal has to be push through practice and keep doing something extra. That's how you're going to get up (on that board)."

That was never a problem for Grim, who admits calling working out "a hobby."

He is been a three-sport athlete, playing baseball as freshman and sophomore and track and field as a junior. He is looking at some Division III schools, including Springfield College, and would love the opportunity to wrestle and play football at the collegiate level.

"That's the goal," Grim said.

c.banning@theday.com

The Day's 2020 All-Area Wrestling Team

Player

of

the

Year — Brayden Grim (Ledyard)

106 pounds — Blake Chapman (Montville)

113 — Connor Doran (Ledyard)

120 — Mason Concascia (Waterford)

126 — Quinn Bond (Montville)

132 — Dominic Renfree (NFA)

138 — Aiden Robertson (Fitch)

145 — Melakai Maddox (Fitch)

152 — Sam Light (Stonington)

170 — Theran Vanase (NFA)

182 — Jackson Harshberger (Waterford)

195 — Jadian Mackenzie (New London)

220 — Roark Ryan (East Lyme/Norwich Tech)

220 — Teshua Williams (New London)

285 — Davin McIver (Ledyard)