Central senior has Classic expectations

Central senior Trever Duncan enters today's 28th annual Tiger Classic as one of the favorites in the 160-pound weight class.

Deservedly so.

Duncan, a four-year varsity letterman, is off to a 7-1 start after finishing last year as the Tigers' lone state qualifier. Duncan's climb to the state tournament has been a quick one.

A flyer promoting a Central wrestling camp peaked his interest in the seventh grade. Duncan made his wrestling debut in the eighth grade, and from there his talent and dedication took over.

Duncan said he's been hooked since he first hit the mat.

"It's just the love of the sport," he said. "It's something you can't just do anywhere."

Like the Tigers' wrestling program, Duncan has made steady progress over his high school career. That progress culminated in a 24-11 record last season and a first-round upset of the No. 2 wrestler in the state before losing back-to-back matches by one point each.

"Trever has a very strong work ethic," Central coach Josh Crowell said. "With Trever, no matter if he's feeling 80 percent or 100 percent, he's going to give you the same effort."

Duncan's hours on the mat and in the gym have helped to make him one of the top wrestlers in the state at his weight class.

"He always puts in a lot of extra work," Crowell said.

Duncan said a key to his success has been listening to any and all advice he gets.

"I've had good coaches," he said. "And I've had some really good wrestling buddies."

While Duncan has had a strong career at Central, he would like to do something about his losing record at the state tournament.

"My overall goal since eighth grade year is to win state," Duncan said. "I get a little closer each year. I'd like to be the first from Central to win if that's possible. And I think it is."

Crowell said Duncan has the mental and physical tools it takes to be successful.

"He's extremely physically strong and he's also very technically sound," he said. "No matter what sport the kid plays he's going to have success."

While Duncan's main focus may be on putting himself in place to make a run at a state title, his immediate goal is to help Central finish strong at the annual Tiger Classic.

This year's classic will feature 15 of Missouri's top wrestling programs, along with Murphysboro, Ill. Southeast Missouri schools Jackson, Sikeston and Dexter will compete, along with other top Missouri programs like Pattonville, Fort Zumwalt North and Ste. Genevieve.

"I try to get the toughest teams we can into the tournament," Crowell said.

Central has not had an individual champion since the mid-1990s, something Duncan said he'd like to change.

"We've had lots of seconds, but haven't had a first in a long time," he said. "So I'd like to win it, just to bring it back home."

The tournament will start at 5 p.m. today at the Central Junior High School. Wrestlers from each weight class will be put into four pools, with the top two finishers in each pool advancing to the championship bracket, while the bottom two will be placed in the consolation bracket.

The first two rounds will be today, followed by additional rounds and finals Saturday.

jjoffray@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension