What Trevor Dearden wants, Trevor Dearden goes and gets. His coach, Ryan Carr, knows that better than anyone. He learned it three years ago, when Dearden competed in his first New England wrestling championship.

Prior to his 119-pound title match against Eric Morrill of Timberlane in 2006, Dearden sat in his hotel room and told his coach exactly what he was going to do to beat his rival. He did just that, snapping Morrill down in a cross front headlock cradle and pinning him for his first of three regional crowns.

“Trevor really has no ceiling. What he chooses he wants to do, he does,” said Carr. “He is a very complete wrestler who virtually has no weaknesses.”

True, the senior 125-pounder holds nearly every record in Salem High School history and currently maintains a 109-match winning streak within New England. Yes, on the few occasions he allowed a point to an opponent, it was only to gain an strategic advantage by allowing an escape.

But what really makes Dearden stand out is the pure intimidation he brings to the mat.

“He just kills everyone,” said Pelham’s D.J. Sweeney, who took second at the Division II state meet in 2007 and faced Dearden in a regular-season match. “I mean, he puts everybody in arm bars, and he cranks it. And if you can’t deal with it, he just turns you right over on your back. I stuck through it and my arm was throbbing for a week.”

For that reason and many others, Carr said Dearden is the best grappler to grace the Salem mat.

“According to his wins and accomplishments, he is the best wrestler ever from Salem,” said the coach. “It is tough for me because I coached both him and Aaron Kalil (who graduated last year). They are best friends, and I have always had trouble choosing between the two. Both are worthy of the honor, but Trevor is the only three-time New England champ and Hall of Fame inductee.”

Dearden’s record currently stands at 181-11, tied with Kalil for most Salem victories, but senior nationals remain, and it’s likely he will surpass his good friend, said Carr.

The key to success, said Dearden, has been dedication.

“A lot of kids lose interest, either before they hit junior high school or after, but the kids who stick with it are the ones you see at New England finals every year,” said Dearden, who has grappled since first grade. “You can’t come into the season and just start wrestling, you need to be wrestling in the offseason, not just lifting weights.”

In addition to a disciplined workout routine, the 125-pound star said he took up freestyle wrestling in the spring to keep himself sharp.

He’s also been pushing his brother, freshman Devon, who reached the Meet of Champions as a 112-pounder this year.

“(Trevor) is a D-I guy, and he’s getting a lot of offers and recruiting,” said Carr, who noted Dearden may go to prep school first. “He had a slow start in high school, but made honor roll the last year and a half.”

“My ultimate goal is to become an NCAA D-I champ. It’s a pretty high goal, but one I think I can reach,” said Dearden. “It’s probably not going to happen in my freshman or sophomore year, but maybe by the time I’m a senior I’ll get there.”

That seems reasonable. To date, he’s proven one thing: what Trevor Dearden wants, Trevor Dearden goes and gets.