Keegan Daniel O'Toole (born May 9, 2001) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes at 74 kilograms.[1] In freestyle, he was the 2023 U23 World Champion and the 2021 U20 World Champion.[2] In folkstyle, he is a two-time NCAA Division I national champion out of the University of Missouri.[1]
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| Full name | Keegan Daniel O'Toole | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | May 9, 2001 Hartland, Wisconsin, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft (183 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Wrestling | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight class | 74 kg (163 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Freestyle and Folkstyle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Missouri Tigers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Askren Wrestling Academy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Ben Askren | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Career
editEarly life
editBorn and raised in the state of Wisconsin, O'Toole attended Arrowhead High School in Hartland, Wisconsin, graduating in 2020 as the second-ranked recruit in the nation.[3] During his time as a high school wrestler, O'Toole went on to become the eighteenth athlete to claim four WIAA state titles, going 49–0 as a senior.[4] He was the top-ranked wrestler at 160 pounds in 2019.[5] Before attending the University of Missouri (NCAA Division I), he was named the Junior Dan Hodge Trophy and Wisconsin's Dave Schultz High School Excellence award winner.[6][7]
University of Missouri
edit2020–2021
editBefore the season started, O'Toole claimed the U20 US National championship in freestyle.[8]
A true freshman, O'Toole racked up a 9–0 record in dual meets during regular season, competing solely along the Mid-American Conference due to COVID-19 restrictions.[9] After claiming the Conference title, O'Toole competed at the NCAA tournament, where after making the quarterfinals, he was knocked into consolations by eventual finalist and third-seeded Jake Wentzel from Pittsburgh.[10] He then notably stunned second-ranked Anthony Valencia from ASU by technical fall and fifth-ranked Zach Hartman from Bucknell by major decision before claiming third-place with a win over tenth-seeded Travis Wittlake from the Oklahoma State University, becoming an All-American and closing out the year at 19–1.[11]
O'Toole repeated as the U20 US national champion, and then claimed the U20 world championship with a technical fall in the final, pinning 2020 Olympian and 2019 U23 World Champion Turan Bayramov in the quarterfinals.[6]
2021–2022
editBack to folkstyle, O'Toole racked up a Southern Scuffle title and a 12–0 record in dual meets during regular season, before making his Big 12 Conference debut and claiming the conference title.[12] At the NCAA tournament, O'Toole, the second seed, took out returning All-Americans Anthony Valencia and Cameron Amine to make the finals, where he edged returning NCAA champion Shane Griffith to become an NCAA champion and close out the year undefeated at 25–0.[13] After the season, he was named the Big 12 Wrestler of the Year.[14]
2022–2023
editThe returning national champion, O'Toole won the Tiger Invite title and compiled a 9–1 dual meet record during regular season, with a lone loss to fellow U20 World and NCAA champion David Carr, who had bumped up from 157 pounds to 165 pounds.[15] He claimed runner-up honors at the Big 12 Championships, losing the rematch to Carr in the finals.[16] At the NCAA championships, O'Toole defeated All-Americans Wyatt Sheets, Carson Kharchla, and two-timer Cameron Amine to cruise to the finals, where he upset Carr by decision, becoming a two-time NCAA champion.[17]
Fresh off an NCAA championship, O'Toole returned to freestyle and made his senior-level debut at the US Open National Championships in April.[18] After a 3–0 stint, O'Toole fell to three-time NCAA champion and returning national champion Jason Nolf in the semifinals before winning his next two matches to claim third place.[19] In June, he earned a forfeit victory against fellow two-time NCAA champion Vincenzo Joseph for third place in the US World Team Trials at Final X and was named to the U23 US World Team.[20][21]
At the U23 World Championships, O'Toole defeated returning U23 World medalist Vadym Kurylenko, U23 European finalist Krisztian Biro, and U17 World medalist Imam Ganishov in the finals to become the U23 World champion.[22]
2023–2024
editBack to folkstyle, O'Toole won the Tiger Invite and went 12–0 in dual meets before becoming a two-time Big 12 champion, with a win in the finals over three-time All-American David Carr to tie the series at 2–2.[23] At the NCAA tournament, O'Toole, the top seed, cruised to the semifinals with three consecutive pins, where he was upset by Carr and fell into the consolation bracket.[24] He then defeated his next two opponents to place third and become a four-time All-American, closing out the year at 24–1.[25]
Freestyle record
edit
References
edit- ^ a b "Keegan O'Toole - Wrestling". University of Missouri Athletics. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
- ^ Shefferd, Neil (August 18, 2021). "Iran take team title as men's freestyle finals continue at World Junior Wrestling Championships". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ "Arrowhead's Keegan O'Toole may become the 18th wrestler in state history to win 4 individual titles". TMJ4. February 26, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ "Four-time wrestling state champ Keegan O'Toole has lofty goals going forward". BVM Sports. July 1, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ Hogg, Curt. "With a dominant victory on a national stage, this Arrowhead senior earned the title of the No. 1 high-school wrestler in America". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ a b Hogg, Curt. "Former four-time state champion Keegan O'Toole of Arrowhead is now a world champion". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ "Decker Honored with Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award". Duke University. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ "Mauller, Edmond, O'Toole Claim National Titles at UWW Nationals". University of Missouri Athletics. March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ Smith, Earl (March 15, 2021). "2021 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships Preview: 165 Pounds". The Open Mat. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ "Mizzou Wrestling Advances Three to Final Day of NCAAs". University of Missouri Athletics. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ Russell, Lee. "Missouri wrestling third overall after first day of NCAA championships". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ "Keegan O'Toole Crowned Big 12 Wrestler of the Year". University of Missouri Athletics. March 24, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ "Keegan O'Toole Wins Missouri's Ninth Individual National Championship". University of Missouri Athletics. March 19, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ "O'Toole Secures 2022 Big 12 Wrestler of the Year Award". big12sports.com. March 24, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ Register, Special to the. "Iowa State's David Carr beats Missouri's Keegan O'Toole in battle of top 165-pounders". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ "David Carr wins 4th conference title, Iowa State wrestling takes 3rd at Big 12 Championships". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ "Keegan O'Toole Secures Back-to-Back Individual National Championships". University of Missouri Athletics. March 18, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ Smith, Matthew (April 10, 2023). "Tiger Style Wrestling Returns To The US Open". Rock M Nation. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ Guenther, Dylan (April 29, 2023). "Wrestling: Tyler Berger Wins US Open, Advances to Final X". Corn Nation. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ "Penn State Olympic RTC/NLWC Dominates at Final X". Penn State Athletics. June 10, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ Staff, Missourian (June 27, 2023). "Mizzou wrestling's Keegan O'Toole selected to U23 U.S. World Team". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ Vinay. "U23 Worlds: Tirana triumph for O'Toole, Brooks; Gimri wins Turkiye's first gold". United World Wrestling. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
- ^ "Keegan O'Toole could become first Missouri wrestler to win 3 national titles since J'den Cox". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ "Penn State clinches team title at NCAA Championships; Carr beats O'Toole in rivalry battle in semifinals". www.themat.com. March 23, 2024. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ Measer, Story by Reece Candler; Photos by Adam Runge and Jj (March 23, 2024). "Mizzou's O'Toole rebounds to finish third, Elams place in top six at NCAA Championships". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
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