2023 NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP

March 18, 2023

Austin O'Connor

BOK Center

Finals Media Conference

157 pounds

O'Connor (North Carolina) d. Haines (Penn State), 6-2

Q. How does that feel? What were your emotions after that one?

AUSTIN O'CONNOR: It's very special. Honestly, it might be more special than my first one. Obviously, it was a long journey, battling back after an injury last year. I just got -- my determination, it was (indiscernible) no other and I was ready to get here. And I did.

Q. [No microphone]

AUSTIN O'CONNOR: Yeah, it was a long road. I got to the top of the podium at 49. And I went up a weight the following year. I know people doubted me. I had a rough bump in the road right off the bat against Payton Rahm (phonetic), and all of a sudden everybody is like, ah, he's not as good as he was up a weight.

There's always going to be someone saying something. I wanted to prove them wrong. I started wrestling hard and I was getting to where I needed to be for the national championship. And I got set back again by an injury.

And that just upped my determination. As soon as the offseason hit I got on the ground running, and I got in with my trainers, had the surgery the following week after nationals. And every day since the last tournament ended I was ready to start grinding to get me to where I am today.

Q. [No microphone] and you said I'm back. Can you tell me how it feels to be back on top and I guess [inaudible]?

AUSTIN O'CONNOR: Everything paid off. I mean, I felt like I'm the king of the castle. And these guys were coming after my crown. This was the first year I came in the tournament actually the 1 seed, which I was happy about. Finally showed something that these people finally gave me a little respect and gave me the 1 spot.

The year I won it I was No. 2. Felt I should be No. 1. Coming in the next year people were doubting me, said I wasn't going to be at 57, like I talked about. I wanted to show people I'm the king and I'm back. And that's what I did.

Q. You came to North Carolina with the intention of building something special. Really helped boost that program with Tony (indiscernible). Can you talk about what you feel your impact now is with North Carolina wrestling? [Inaudible]?

AUSTIN O'CONNOR: I set out to North Carolina to be as great as I could be. I know I had all the resources. I knew I was setting myself up with the right coaches. Some kids pick the best college -- they want to pick these big schools, like a school like Penn State. And I wanted to go to be a part of something that we're starting up.

Coleman Scott, a great coach, took over that program the year before I got there. And me and him had the same goal in mind. We wanted to be the best university. And to get there we needed to start building and to be a two-time national champ for that university is something very special.

Q. [Off microphone].

AUSTIN O'CONNOR: I love the ACC. All the teams are fantastic. We have great competition. I'd say we're going to be starting to compete with the Big Ten here soon. We have multiple guys in the national finals. And we've been battling.

We'd like to see more teams added to the ACC but I think we have the depth for what we've got right now. Three kids in my weight class made it to the tournament and all placed. ACC is building. We're there ready to compete at the national tournament with any other conference there is?

Q. What drives you and motivates you?

AUSTIN O'CONNOR: That's a tough one. Since the time I was a little I wanted to be a national champ. I started since I was 4 years old. I've been winning state titles since I was 4 til out of high school. I only lost two state titles in my career, when I was 6 years old and 7 years old.

So from the time I was 4 years old I got used to winning titles. And I was the best in my state and I knew I wanted to be the best nationally. And just growing up and grinding every day. Wrestling has been a great influence in my life to set me up with a great college, to set me up with great people in life that I've made big connections with. And so that means everything.