Duke head coach Clar Anderson knows his squad has been working hard this season-it's hard not to notice the 20 gallons of sweat he said the team perspires collectively each practice.
In just a single training session, it's not uncommon for a Duke wrestler to lose five pounds and soak five T-shirts with sweat. This year's Blue Devils hope their efforts will pay off.
Last year, Duke finished 4-11 in dual meets and ended its season at the bottom of the ACC. This season, the team believes it is ready to take its competition to the next level.
"We'll be better, maybe than we've ever been," Anderson said. "As a whole, everyone is really good."
The Blue Devils are young but full of potential, planning to start only one senior this season. But youth does not mean inexperience or a lack of focus for the team.
"This year we have pretty much our entire team returning," junior co-captain Dan Tulley said. "We're close. We're going to have a good year."
Duke-the only team in its conference that does not offer scholarships-competes against five other teams in the ACC, all of which have a full 10 scholarships to bolster their squads, Anderson said.
"The ACC has really amped it up in their recruiting and their level of play," Anderson said. "My biggest problem is to convince [my wrestlers] that they can compete day-in and day-out against quality scholarship teams."
Duke was the only team in the ACC in 2005-2006 to not make a showing at the NCAA Championships. This year, the Blue Devils are determined to compete against ranked opponents in order to earn national respect for the team.
"We want to get young men to the ACC finals and into the national championships, so we're taking them to tournaments," Anderson said. "They're going to get nationally-ranked guys and get recognition."
In its first tournament of the season, Duke made a strong showing at the Citadel Open Nov. 3 in Charleston, S.C. Although the tournament was an open meet and therefore does not count toward the team's record, six of eight participating Blue Devil freshmen placed. John Barone-a redshirt freshman who finished fifth in high school nationals just two years ago-placed first in the 174-pound weight class.
The team hopes to perpetuate Barone's success and drive itself towards bigger and better things.
"We're just trying to keep everybody on the same page," said co-captain Kellan McKeon, a three-year starter. "We want everybody focused on getting better as a team, doing their own part."
Anderson is confident that his team has the motivation and leadership to compete and turn potential into results.
"These guys are all excited," he said. "There's really 12 or 15 leaders on this team-they're really strong individuals."
Tulley can't help but agree. The junior thinks this season is Duke's perfect chance to take advantage of the team's hard work, especially in conference competition.
"The ACC is getting tougher," he said. "But so are we."
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