Mizzou’s O’Toole competing for more than just titles: ‘Life’s a lot bigger than wrestling’
It wasn’t the end that Mizzou wrestler Keegan O’Toole had wanted — or the end Mizzou fans expected — but there is one driving force behind O’Toole’s ability to move on from a stunning semifinal defeat.
“Life’s a lot bigger than wrestling.”
O’Toole, a two-time national champion who was hoping to make it three in Kansas City, fell just short of the goal in the fifth edition of the O’Toole/David Carr rivalry at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. But O’Toole still earned his place on the podium in Friday’s medal round.
O’Toole, defeating Iowa’s Mike Caliendo in a 12-8 decision, won the bronze in the 165 weight class. It’s his fourth All-America placement in his college career.
“It’s good to have (to) struggle,” O’Toole said. “It’s good to hit walls and try and break through them. Definitely hit a couple walls this weekend, but very happy with my performance and how I came back.”
In the crowd cheering him on in Kansas City was his mom, Laura. Just this past November, O’Toole revealed that Laura had been diagnosed with breast cancer. O’Toole found perspective in that moment. The Wisconsin native sat down and realized the sport wasn’t the be-all, end-all for him.
“That was a big thing,” he said. “Just wrestling for a higher purpose other than just trying to win. … Just understanding that life’s a lot bigger than this, but I’m still going to put everything I have into it.”
O’Toole also said that Laura is now cancer-free, and both she and O’Toole’s father Brian have been enjoying the NCAA Tournament experience in KC. Laura had missed the Big 12 championships due to surgery.
Walking off the mat after the semifinal loss to Carr, Mizzou coach Brian Smith had a message for O’Toole: That wasn’t his identity.
Much of his identity surrounds his winning, as a two-time national champion. But it’s also someone who has consistently given his all, someone who has a tight-knit bond with those who matter most, someone who values his faith and, evidently ... someone who is really, really into investing.
When asked of his plans after leaving T-Mobile Center, first on his list was to, of course, hang out with his parents, and then make the trip back to Columbia. What’s waiting for him back in Columbia, though, isn’t a typical answer from a normal college student:
“I got a lot of things going for me,” he said. “Starting to build a house back in Columbia, it’s starting to happen soon.”
It’s rare to hear of house-building plans from someone so young. But as a financial planning major, O’Toole has put in more than enough work outside the mat to carry over to his success when his wrestling career is eventually over.
“I just love learning on how to invest, grow my wealth and stuff like that,” O’Toole said. “I want to set myself up pretty well when I get older for my children and my children’s children.”
Even between bouts at the Big 12 championships, O’Toole would watch investing videos to keep a calm mindset.
“Real-estate investing is a really good opportunity to start that process,” he added. “I had an opportunity and I jumped right on it.”
His hope is to be able to break ground on the house in the next couple of weeks, aiming for an August move-in.
O’Toole noted that he’ll be taking a couple days off from wrestling once he gets back to Columbia before ultimately getting back into the weight room. Until then, he seems to be pretty well set with the upcoming plans.
“Just go live my life,” he said. “Go take time with my family and appreciate what I have, because I’m a very lucky person.”
Two other All-Americans for the Tigers
O’Toole joins Mizzou’s other two All-Americans, Rocky and Zach Elam. A pair of KC natives (Staley HS), Rocky and Zach are able to celebrate in a place that, according to O’Toole, is just a couple of minutes from their house.
Rocky placed sixth in the 197 class, falling in a fifth-round bout against South Dakota State’s Tanner Sloan to a 14-6 decision.
Zach, in his final collegiate bout, claimed his highest career placement with fourth place after falling to Air Force’s Wyatt Hendrickson in a 14-2 major decision.
“He’s a mean son of a gun when he wrestles,” O’Toole said of Zach. “He’s gritty. ... He’s been great. I’m so happy he’s able to get his highest placement ever here in his hometown.”
He continued.
“And to Rocky, too,” O’Toole said. “I know they probably didn’t get what they wanted, nor did I, but man, you can learn a lot from this tournament and grow.”
NCAA Wrestling Championships
Thursday-Saturday, at T-Mobile Center
Top 10 and area teams scores:
1. Penn State, 172.5; 2. Cornell, 72.5; 3. Michigan, 71; 4. Iowa State, 68.5; 5. Iowa, 67; 6. Arizona State, 64.5; 7. Virginia Tech, 64; 8. Ohio State, 62; 9. Nebraska, 60.5; 10. Oklahoma State, 56; T11. Missouri, 49.5.
Championship matches/area placement matches:
125 pounds: 1. Figueroa, Arizona State, d. Ayala, Iowa, 7-2. 133: 1. Arujau, Cornell, d. Fix, Oklahoma State, 5-3. 141: 1. Mendez, Ohio State, d. Bartlett, Penn State, 4-1. 149: 1. Henson, Virginia Tech, m.d. Gomez, Michigan, 13-3. 157: 1. Haines, Penn State, d. Teemer, Arizona State, 5-0. 165: 1. Carr, Iowa State, d. Mesenbrink, Penn State, 9-8. 3. O’Toole, Missouri, d. Caliendo, Iowa, 12-8. 174: 1. Starocci, Penn State, d. Welsh, Ohio State, 2-0. 184: 1. Keckeisen, Northern Iowa, m.d. Plott, Oklahoma State, 14-5. 197: 1. Brooks, Penn State, d. Hidlay, North Carolina State, 6-1. 5. Sloan, South Dakota State, d. R. Elam, Missouri, 7-0. 285: 1. Kerkvliet, Penn State, m.d. Davison, Michigan, 13-4. 3. Hendrickson, Air Force, m.d. Z. Elam, Missouri, 14-2.
This story was originally published March 23, 2024 at 2:20 PM.
