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-McCallie’s T.J. Duncan Signs With Maryland
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010
With the start of his senior season less than two weeks away and with it the opportunity to make Tennessee high school wrestling history, McCallie senior T.J. Duncan signed a national letter of intent with the University of Maryland Monday afternoon.
The four-time state wrestling champ – one of only seven in state tournament history to claim four titles and the first with the opportunity to win a fifth – is the latest in a long line of Blue Tornado wrestlers to sign with a NCAA D-I program.
“I am excited to sign with Maryland and I think the school and the wrestling program is a good fit for me,” said Duncan Monday afternoon who will join former Brentwood Academy state champion Justin Cash who is a redshirt freshman for the Terrapins.. “I look forward to wrestling at the next level.”
But Duncan, who won’t turn 18 until March 1 and has a career record of 122-16, has some unfinished business at the prep level before making the transition to college wrestling, as he can become the first to win a fifth state championship in this the 50th anniversary year of the state tournament (1961-2011).
The seven, four-time Tennessee state champs are Martin Francis (Notre Dame, 1969-1972), Philip Simpson (MBA, 1998-2001), Matt Keller (Bradley Central, 1999-2002), Ryan Scott (McCallie, 2001-04), Jordan Leen (Baylor, 2001-2004), Bailey Whitaker (Baylor, 2005-08) and Duncan (2007-2010).
“I believe that T.J. will do well at the college level since he has the rare ability to score in all three areas; on his feet, from the bottom position as well as on top,” said McCallie wrestling coach Gordon Connell who has won at the state (Brainerd High School, 1966), national and international levels (U.S. and world seniors champion).
“Since there is riding time in college (no riding time at the high school level), one has to be able to control the opponent from the top position and T.J. is a beast on top. He can put people on their backs.”
Connell also noted that Duncan is hard to hold down, has good strength and is good on his feet with quickness and solid technique.
Wrestling in the Ukraine: In preparation for his senior season, Duncan and McCallie teammate and 2008 state champion Michael Hooker, were part of an American team sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) which competed and held clinics in some Eastern block countries this past summer.
Wrestling freestyle, Duncan placed second in a big tournament at the end of the tour.
“The guys I competed against relied more on a countering style of wrestling. Reacting and reacting well to my moves. Their defense was impeccable.
“Going on the trip helped me wrestling wise, but I was also able to grow in my faith as a Christian as we were able to give our testimony with European wrestlers as well as see first-hand how our team leaders lived out their Christian faith on a daily basis,” Duncan stated.
The FCA team coach was two-time Olympic medalist John Peterson and former four-time Big Eight champ and two-time NCAA All-American Steve Barrett (Oklahoma State, 1976-77).
“T.J. was much more impressed with how John lived his Christian life each day in good and bad situations, than his medals (1972 Olympic silver, 1976 Olympic gold medal),” said Connell.
Not only did Duncan face tough competition, he saw the plight of many people in tough living conditions.
“Seeing people live day-to-day in tremendous poverty helped me to be much more thankful for what I have in this country,” said Duncan.
McCallie Wrestlers at the D-I Level: Numerous McCallie wrestlers have competed at the NCAA D-I level, including All-Americans Cody Cleveland (2009), currently a senior for UTC, and Pat Smartt (Lehigh, 1963), as well as Big Ten champion Lou Hudson (Michigan, 1969) and SEC champion Phil Greek (Ga. Tech, mid-1960s).
Big Blue Wrestling Schedule: McCallie opens the 2010-11 season at the Scottsboro Duals (Nov. 27) with the home opener against Red Bank on Dec. 3 and the McCallie Invitational, Dec. 17-18.