Brighter days lie ahead for a Duncan wrestling team that was forced to deal with more than its fair share of adversity this past season.
Injuries and illness played a big role in the Demons season as they finished the year with only two state qualifiers. The good news for the team is that it will only lose a couple of regulars in the lineup and will be in good shape to climb back into its role as one of the top teams in the state next season.
“In a nutshell, it was pretty challenging,” Duncan coach Kevin Kelly said. “I knew we were going to be young and we were rebuilding a little bit. Having to battle with guys getting sick in and out of the lineup, it was pretty challenging.”
Injuries also took their toll, starting in football season when Jordan Broom was lost for the season with a knee injury. The Demons also lost 2009 state qualifier Kendall Carnahan to a lingering medical problem at the end of the season.
Even with those problems, Duncan qualified for the Dual State Tournament for the fourth year in a row.
“I think we made strides as a team,” Kelly said. “Other than Dual State, we wrestled pretty good in the last four duals. We looked pretty good as a team.”
That success did not carry over into the regional tournament as only Justin Hughes and Christian Carnahan qualified for state with Hughes placing third.
“It was pretty disappointing,” Kelly said. “I took it pretty hard. You put so much into it and the kids do to. You see some of the kids like Payton Atchley and you have five kids come up short of qualifying. It was pretty hard.”
Atchley and Hughes will be the backbone of the team next season as Duncan will once again be pretty young. Experience gained by freshmen that were run up to the varsity this season is expected to pay off as well as the arrival of more talented wrestlers from the junior high ranks.
“We are losing a couple of seniors and we will only lose a couple next year,” Kelly said. “We will be pretty young again. Justin and Payton will be seniors and they will be our leaders coming in.
“I’m pretty excited about the next few years. We have a good junior high wrestling team and the freshmen that we had this year gained some good experience.”
In an effort to get more mat time, the Demons will take part in some freestyle events during the spring, adding another eight weeks of training.
“We haven’t done it in a while and after spring break, we will practice two times a week,” Kelly said. “It is like another wrestling season.
“Freestyle helps you on your feet and that is where we need to get a lot better. That is where most of your matches are won with your good kids. I think it will help us quite a bit. It will keep the kids in it and we are going to have some college kids come down and work on new techniques with us.”
— Michael Pineda is the sports editor for The Duncan Banner. He can be reached at 580-255-5354, Ext. 143, or via e-mail at m.pineda@duncanbanner.com.
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Michael Pineda
Looking ahead
DHS to return experienced cast next year
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For many years, Duncan High School has been known for its proud wrestling tradition. On Saturday the Demons will have a chance to add to that growing tradition as they take part in the Class 5A Dual State Championships, which will be held at Yukon High School starting on Saturday at noon.
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Area teams set for big week
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Senior night for Duncan
There will be a sense of pride plus plenty of emotion Friday night at Duncan Gymnasium.
At 6:30 p.m. the No. 13 Duncan Lady Demons (15-7) will take to the floor against Ardmore (1-18) on Senior Night. Seniors Ashley Gonzalez, Hannah Allen, Dani Jo St. Clair, Britton and Brooklyn Scott along with D’Shala Culberson and Jamesia Milton will be honored during the contest. -
Indians prepare for dual state
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The Comanche Indians will be making the three hour drive to Cushing, looking to advance past the semi-finals, something which has eluded them the past two years thanks to Perry. -
Carletti-Silva inks with Army
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Demons rout Altus
After a tough loss on the road last Friday night against Lawton MacArthur, it seemed the Duncan Demons needed a boost to get themselves going for the last week of the season. DHS had its sights set on using the Altus Bulldogs as the tool for their motivation Tuesday night at Duncan Gymnasium.
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Lady Outlaws smother Rush Springs, 38-28
It wasn’t one of Marlow’s best offensive performances of the season. Luckily it was one of the Lady Outlaws best defensive showings.
For only the third time this season, Marlow held an opponent to fewer than 30 points and the Lady Outlaws topped the visiting Rush Springs Lady Redskins, 38-28. -
Culberson, DHS hold off Lady Bulldogs
There is a saying, “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” For the Duncan Lady Demons, a rematch against Altus at Duncan Gymnasium on a chilly evening seemed like the perfect motivation to help DHS avoid a two-game losing streak Tuesday night.
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Duncan hosts Altus tonight
ometimes it’s not how hard you fall, it’s how fast you get back up.
After a tough overtime loss Friday night at Lawton MacArthur, the No. 14 Duncan Lady Demons (14-7) will look to rebound this evening against the No. 11 Altus Lady Bulldogs (12-6) with tip-off set for 6:30 p.m. from Duncan Gymnasium. - More Sports Headlines
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