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Canfield Duals will feature top competition
By Curtis Pulliam
Canfield
Ross Duffett knows it’s tough to look past a name on paper.
But he knows the Canfield wrestling team will have to do just that as they host their Holiday Dual Tournament Saturday.
Among the teams participating will be St. Paris Graham who is ranked the No. 1 team in the nation.
The Falcons have won the last 14 Ohio state individual team titles in Division II.
“You got to look past the name,” said Duffett, a senior and returning letterman. “You just got tell [the younger guys] that they are a high schooler just like you. You just got to go out there and believe that you have a chance to win.”
The tournament also will feature Parkersburg (last year’s West Virginia state tournament runner-up), Reynolds (last year’s Pennsylvania state tournament runner-up) and Richfield Revere.
Duffett, who weighs in at 182 pounds, says the meet always helps him improve.
“It helps me realize how good some of the best guys in the country are,” Duffett said. “It makes you realize how hard you have to work if you want to compete with those guys and achieve your goals.”
The Division II Cardinals (7-0) believe that this will be the best competition they face until the state tournament.
“We think we have good young kids that want to be good,” said Canfield head coach Dean Conley. “We want to be the team that can wrestle with Graham, so we are glad that they come every year.”
Conley says the event as been happening for at least 10 years and he likes what it does for his wrestlers going forward.
“Our guys seem to be incredibly coachable after this event every year,” Conley said. “You have some success, think you are OK and then you wrestle those guys and realize there is still a huge gap there. So then you have to go back to the drawing board.”
The Cardinals went 12-3 last season and nine lettermen from last year’s squad.
Jacob Esarco (220) credits the coaches for the team’s success.
“I love it,” said Esarco about the team atmosphere. “What I find great is that they treat us like adults and they talk to us like adults.”
Conley believes his unique coaching style improves team morale.
“I think the environment here is that guys will ask questions,” Conley said. “I think we have the kind of kids and parents that value this and they are an incredible support group.”
C.J. Frost (138) is very excited for Saturday’s opportunity.
“I know there is going to be a lot of important people there who are going to be watching,” Frost said. “I’m just going to show them my talent and maybe they will see something in me.”
Esarco knows Saturday gives his team a great preview of what to expect in late February.
“Every year we try to win more [individual’ matches against Graham,” Esarco said. “Hopefully we will see them in the team state finals.”
Conley feels that his team can only learn so much from Saturday’s meet.
“There are some things that you can’t overcome,” Conley said. “But we ultimately train for the best kids in the state.”