Keegan O'Toole

Keegan Daniel O'Toole (born May 9, 2001) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes internationally at 74 kilograms and collegiately at 165 pounds.[1] In freestyle, he was the 2021 Junior World Champion.[2] In folkstyle, he is a two-time NCAA Division I national champion at the University of Missouri.[1] On March 19, 2022, as the second seed, O'Toole won his first NCAA national championship at 165 pounds by defeating defending national champion Shane Griffith of Stanford. O'Toole finished the season 28-0. He was listed as a freshman for his 2021-2022 campaign due to the pandemic year of 2020-2021.

Keegan O'Toole
Personal information
Full nameKeegan Daniel O'Toole
NationalityUnited States American
Born (2001-05-09) May 9, 2001
Hartland, Wisconsin, United States
Height6 ft (183 cm)
Sport
CountryUnited States American
SportWrestling
Weight class74 kg (163 lb)
Event(s)Freestyle
Folkstyle
College teamMissouri Tigers
ClubAskren Wrestling Academy
Coached byBen Askren
Medal record
Representing the  United States
Men's freestyle wrestling
Junior World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2021 Ufa 74 kg
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing the Missouri Tigers


NCAA Division I National Championships
Gold medal – first place 2023 Tulsa 165 lbs
Gold medal – first place 2022 Detroit 165 lbs
Bronze medal – third place 2021 St. Louis 165 lbs
Big 12 Championships
Silver medal – second place2023 Tulsa165 lbs
Gold medal – first place2022 Tulsa165 lbs
MAC Conference
Gold medal – first place 2021 Trenton 165 lbs

Background

Born and raised in the state of Wisconsin, O'Toole attended Arrowhead High School in Hartland, 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 cemented his spot as the top-ranked 160 pounder with a technical fall over former #1 Paddy Gallgher.[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]

Collegiate career

2020–2021

Missouri's O'Toole racked up a perfect 13–0 record NCAAs competing solely along the Mid-American Conference due to COVID-19 restrictions.[8] At the NCAA tournament, he advanced to the quarterfinals with two more wins, but was knocked off to consolation by eventual finalist and third-seeded Jake Wentzel from Pittsburgh.[9] After his first win on consolations, he stunned second-ranked Anthony Valencia from ASU by technical fall and fifth-ranked Zach Hartman from Bucknell by major decision before claiming the bronze medal by downing tenth-seeded Travis Wittlake from the Oklahoma State University, becoming an All-American.[10]

Freestyle career

Age-group level

After winning multiple US National titles in freestyle, O'Toole claimed the 2021 Junior World Championship with a technical fall in the finale, notoriously pinning '19 U23 World Champion Turan Bayramov in the quarterfinals.[6][11]

NCAA record

References
  1. "Keegan O'Toole - Wrestling". University of Missouri Athletics. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  2. 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.
  3. "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.
  4. "Four-time wrestling state champ Keegan O'Toole has lofty goals going forward". BVM Sports. July 1, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  5. 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.
  6. Hogg, Curt. "Former four-time state champion Keegan O'Toole of Arrowhead is now a world champion". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  7. "Decker Honored with Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award". Duke University. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  8. Smith, Earl (March 15, 2021). "2021 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships Preview: 165 Pounds". The Open Mat. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  9. "Mizzou Wrestling Advances Three to Final Day of NCAAs". University of Missouri Athletics. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  10. Russell, Lee. "Missouri wrestling third overall after first day of NCAA championships". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  11. "2021 World Junior Wrestling Championships Results Book" (PDF). United World Wrestling. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
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