Role on the team: “I’ve been on the Varsity Wrestling team since freshman year, and I was captain last year,” says Duffy. “This year, I am a tri-captain along with Chris Douglas ’08 and Jeff Mead ’08.” Currently wrestling in the 160-pound class, Duffy has helped Choate improve from last year’s 7-17 record to 6-4 thus far this season.
Individual Honors: “Sophomore year, I placed 4th in the Class A Tournament,” says Duffy. “That was a huge accomplishment for me. That year I won the team award for marked improvement. Junior year I placed 3rd in the class A tournament, beating the Deerfield wrestler in my last match.” He also went on to wrestle in the national tournament, but the competition was a lot stiffer. “I also won the team award for excellence in wrestling.”
Experience: Duffy entered ninth grade without ever wrestling before. “Before then I thought wrestling was all ‘powerbombs’ and hitting people with your elbows. You know, all that stuff you see on television,” Duffy added. “But I met many interesting people who helped me train and improve my skills.”
Off-season training/sports: “I don’t really have an off season besides the summer,” says Duffy, who won the 5th Form Prize for Best Athlete during last year’s Prize Day. “I also play football in the fall and lacrosse in the spring, so I have a pretty full schedule.” This fall, he helped Choate’s football squad to a 5-2-1 record. “Summer is work time since I have to earn some money. So, whenever I’m not working, I’m running, swimming, and burning lots of cardio.”
Goals for the season: “Beat Deerfield, of course,” says Duffy. “Also, I want to have a team record over .500, and never get pinned.” After a strong finish last season, Christian hopes to reach the finals in the Class A’s and New England’s. “Choate wrestlers live in the present. Looking down the road doesn’t help much when anyone can win right now.”
Future goals: “I hope to enjoy this sport sometime in the future,” says Duffy, who will travel to Northfield Mt. Hermon School this weekend to face great wrestlers from Avon Old Farms, Hyde, Proctor, and NMH.
