Takedown Report

Austin O’Connor is Ready to Get Back to the Top of the NCAA Podium

by Dustin Howard; Photos courtesy of Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com

Not much has gone to plan for North Carolina’s Austin O’Connor over the past five months, but maybe it’s all part of something bigger. O’Connor tore the anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, and lateral collateral ligament in his right knee in February and wrestled through it to hit the podium at the NCAA Championships. He had surgery after the season and most recently underwent another procedure to remove scar tissue in the injured area.

The injury zapped O’Connor of his explosiveness and limited his offense last postseason, when he slipped to eighth place at 157 pounds after winning his first NCAA title at 149 the season before. That showing then planted seeds of doubt across the college wrestling world about O’Connor’s ability to get back to the top of the podium.

The recent complications have since made the start of next season murkier as O’Connor races to get healthy, though he admits being ready for the Tar Heels’ first action of the season might not be possible. … rest of the story at https://rokfin.com/article/9852/Austin-OConnor-is-Ready-to-Get-Back-to-the-Top-of-the-NCAA-Podium?affiliate_id=1826&mc_cid=ba6970a31f&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

September 15, 2022 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized