Rocky Point Alum Brandon Escobar Wrestling Toward Olympic Dream

Brandon Escobar began wrestling just seven years ago. Now, at the age of 21, the Sound Beach resident and graduate of is making his push toward the ultimate goal -- Olympic glory.

While the Olympics weren't always on the radar, he came to realize it was certainly a possibility when he placed first in his weight class for freestyle and second in Greco-Roman style at the 2009 FILA Junior World Championships. At that point, he made the decision to see how far he could go.

He spent the next few years traveling, training and competing before choosing to come back home to train.

"Im back home so I can get that training I need which I didn’t get when I was away," Escobar said. "It’s funny, I go three years looking for the right place for me and all along it was right back home."

In working toward his goal, travel, lodging and registration fees are not covered, so the Brandon Escobar Wrestling Fund was established to help offset his expenses.

"Team 'Esco' is made up of everyone I know that supports me," he said. "All my friends, the kids I train, the parents of the kids I train, that’s my team and I’m going to be doing as much as I can and everything I can to make everybody proud."

Up next for Escobar is the 2011 Sunkist International Open in Mesa, Ariz. at the end of October. From Nov 11 - 13 he will be competing at the New York Athletic Club's (NYAC) Holiday International Open in New York City. He will then compete at the US Men's Freestyle Olympic Trials Qualifier in Las Vegas, Nev. from Dec. 2 - 3 and the US Open Greco Roman Championship Dec. 15 in Arlington, Texas.

Escobar can qualify for the Olympics with a top three finish at nationals or one of the U.S. international tournaments (ie., Sunkist and NYAC).

His new 'Team Esco' t-shirt is emblazoned with the word "strength," which is also tattooed on Escobar.

"All my wrestling revolves around my strength," he said. "Anytime I’ve needed the strength its always been right there to help me when I need that extra push to run, do that extra pullup, do that extra pushup...you have to have that strength."

For more on Escobar, his 'Team Esco" t-shirt and how you can support him, visit his facebook page here.