Hawks working hard for improvement under Duncan
By Chuck Tidmore
Sports Information Assistant
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Huntingdon wrestling team is making the final adjustments for Sunday's season opener against Emanuel College and head coach Craig Duncan has been impressed with the work ethic of his team.
"This team is full of hard workers," Duncan said. "I've enjoyed being around them and they have been working hard in the weight room, classroom and on the mats."
This will be the Hawks' second season of the NCAA era. It will be Duncan's first year in the Division III ranks after spending the past 11 seasons as the head wrestling coach at St. James School in Montgomery. While at St. James, Duncan led the program to its first state title in 2013 and finished runner-up in 2014. He also coached eight individual state champions and was named National Wrestling Coaches Association Coach of the Year for Alabama in 2013.
Being a young program, Duncan wants to see improvement from his team this year.
"The main thing is that we improve every day," Duncan said. "Each match, I want to see to the guys improve. If we can do that, I will consider it a successful year."
Duncan has already noticed improvement during the preseason.
"Preseason went really well and I saw improvement almost every day," Duncan said. "We had great workouts, the open mats went great and the returners stepped up and helped a lot throughout the preseason."
The Hawks return nine wrestlers from last year's roster and brought in 13 wrestlers for this season. Of the nine returners, six won at least one match last year.
Duncan said the returners have done a really good job helping the freshman through the preseason.
"The returners have really stepped up and have become the leaders of this team," Duncan said. "I've been pleased with what they're doing. They're showing the newcomers the ropes and have been helping them in the class room, weight room and on the mats."
The Hawks open their season at Emmanuel College on Sunday in the Georgia Intercollegiate Open.