RallyNorth.net

Focus no problem for Dearden

Monday, February, 04 By Dave Dyer
Staff writer

With an almost mundane regularity, the wins keep piling up for Salem senior 125-pounder Trevor Dearden.

A two-time New England champion, Dearden hasn't lost a match in New England in two years. He's currently 34-2 on the year, with both losses coming at the rugged Beast of the East tournament in Delaware. In New Hampshire and neighboring states, he's had very few competitive matches since his sophomore year. His career mark is a glittering 171-13.

Two years ago, Dearden had a fierce rivalry with Timberlane's Eric Morrill, who is now a starter for Division 1 Edinboro University but, except for a once-a-year battle with Methuen's John Sughrue, there has been no key rival since.

You'd almost think that Dearden would become bored with his high school career and yearn mightily for college. But, for one central reason, that's not the case at all. "It's not that hard to keep myself motivated because I love the sport," said Dearden. "I like practicing and I love the competition."

Moreover, Dearden would like to become a rare three-time New England champ. And, he says, his main goal is to place at Senior Nationals in Virginia Beach, a feat he is confident about "if I keep training hard and don't let up."

Dearden has always trained hard, but this year has been a different experience because he's not working out without three-time New England champion Aaron Kalil, who holds the Salem all-time record for career wins with 186 and is currently wrestling for the Naval Prep Academy. Instead, he trains with Kalil's older brother, Phil, a Salem assistant, and standout 135-pounder Alex Pittera.

"It's definitely different because Aaron is one of the best wrestlers I've ever faced," said Dearden, whose younger brother Devin is a fine 112-pound freshman for the Blue Devils. "But I'm still getting a good workout."

In addition, Salem coach Ryan Carr has kept Dearden's focus on certain techniques.

"Sometimes, Coach will tell me to go out there and work on my feet, trying to get as many takedowns as I can, and sometimes he'll want me to work from on top and maybe try for tilts," said Dearden.

In the long run, the focused training should pay off for Dearden, if not at Senior Nationals then in college. Although he's heard from Hofstra, which is ranked 12th among the 87 Division 1 college programs, and No. 17 Oklahoma has shown some interest, the current front-runner is No. 14 Edinboro, where he visited last month.

At the Pennsylvania school, Dearden would likely train with, and maybe compete for the same weight class with Morrill, a situation that Dearden would relish.

"I think it'd be awesome because he (Morrill) is doing good and he makes me a lot better," said Dearden.