For the first three years of his high school wrestling career, Chris Duran wasn’t anything to write home about. The North Bergen High School senior was mediocre at best.
“He had about a .500 record and finished third in the districts [District 16] last year,” said North Bergen head coach Jerry Maietta. “He’s been with the program for four years, but never really did much. He won a few matches here and there, but nothing to stand out.”
“When I was a freshman, I came out for the team, just to try it,” Duran said. “But I didn’t know what it was all about and I never really cared before.”
But something triggered inside Duran after competing in last year’s District 16 tournament.
“I knew I could be good if I worked at it,” Duran said. “It was all just personal. I wanted to get better. I knew I could be better and I took wrestling more seriously.”
So during the off-season, Duran went to train regularly at a wrestling club in Fairfield, called Rick’s All-American, headed by former North Bergen High School and Kean College standout Rick Gonzalez.
“He was my instructor there and he worked with me a lot,” said Duran of Gonzalez, who was an All-American at Kean and whose son, Ricky, is a current member of the Bruins wrestling team. “I went to tournaments all over the place during the summer and that got me better. I worked on everything. As a wrestler, I was really slow and sloppy. I had to get better on that. I also worked on getting stronger.”
Duran said that he also did a lot of running to help his conditioning, endurance and stamina.
“I did a lot of running outside,” Duran said. “I took the sport more seriously and dedicated myself to it. Last year, I wasn’t a top wrestler. I was basically a back-up on the team. I didn’t wrestle every match. I just had a sense that I wanted to do it more and wanted to get better.”
As the season began, Duran, competing at 152 pounds, found himself in the best condition of his life. He entered the George Jockish Bergen County Coaches Association Tournament, named after the wrestling legend and former North Bergen teacher.
There were no hopes and aspirations for Duran to do anything in the tournament, but he somehow managed to win the 152-pound title.
“He basically came out of nowhere to win that tournament and beat some good wrestlers in doing so,” Maietta said.
“I wasn’t expecting to win, but that definitely gave me a lot of confidence and gave me a sense that I could be pretty good,” Duran said. “That was the turning point.”
From that point on, Duran has been winning. And winning. And winning some more.
Two weeks ago, Duran won the 152-pound championship at District 16, accomplishing a feat that he never thought was possible.
“I saw myself getting better and better,” Duran said. “But I didn’t know if I could win the districts. That was my goal this year. I just wanted to win the districts.”
But Duran didn’t stop there. Last Saturday, Duran captured the Region 4 championship at 152 pounds, defeating Devin Ruiz by a solid 17-6 decision.
“Winning the districts was one thing,” Duran said. “I never expected to win the regions.”
More importantly, Duran now has a 33-0 record.
That’s right. The Bruin senior is now an undefeated region champ. That hardly ever happens _ and this time, it’s coming from a kid who was barely over .500 last season. It’s downright astonishing.
“I think that’s everyone’s reaction,” Maietta said. “Everyone is saying, `Who is this kid?’ It’s an unbelievable turnaround. I don’t remember a kid ever improving that much in one year. I still shake my head in disbelief over it. But he’s been tremendous. He’s more comfortable about there. He has good balance and he’s difficult to score on.”
For his efforts, Duran is The Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week for the past week.
Duran will head a contingent of four North Bergen wrestlers headed to this weekend’s NJSIAA state championships in Atlantic City. It’s the first time in recent memory that North Bergen has sent four to the state tourney. Julian Quintero (130) and Jorge Reyes (119) were runners-up at the Region 4 tourney and Francisco Yanis (189) was third.
Duran is the least likely of the four to have captured a region gold medal.
“I thought he might have a good weekend, but he steamrolled through the districts and the regions and now heads to Atlantic City undefeated,” Maietta said. “I’m really blown away by it. You have no idea how much I can’t believe this. I think it’s kind of set in on him.”
Well, not really.
“I don’t even know what to think,” Duran said. “I have no idea what this is all like. I still can’t believe it. It’s pretty amazing.”
Duran heads to Boardwalk Hall as the No. 6 seed in his weight class in the state. That’s news to Duran.
“I have no idea what the seeds are,” Duran said. “This is all beyond my wildest dreams. I just thought it would be nice to win the districts. I never expected to win the regions and be undefeated this late in the season. I never thought any of it was possible. I’m living a dream.”
Duran is hoping to come home to North Bergen from Atlantic City with a medal.
“That would be great,” Duran said. “Let’s see what happens.”
Regardless of what transpires in Atlantic City, Duran has certainly raised the bar in terms of showing everyone how much of an improved wrestler he really is.
“I guess I’m a good example of what hard work can do,” Duran said. “If I can do it, anyone can.”
“It’s a credit to the kid,” Maietta said. “Hopefully, some of our younger kids can pick up on it and follow in his footsteps. Chris has shown that you can improve and can do better. All you need to do is work. He’s proven that his hard work is paying off. He’s peaking at the right time.”
Duran was asked the biggest reason for his remarkable improvement.
“It’s my attitude,” Duran said. “I really didn’t care before, but I do now. I want to win every time. I don’t feel any pressure. I just go out there to see what happens.”
What already has happened has resulted in perhaps the greatest improvement in the history of Hudson County wrestling. Now, it’s up to Chris Duran to collect a slice of history as well in the form of an NJSIAA state medal.
–Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.