University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Dave Crenshaw
O'Connor Earns ACC Wrestler Of The Year Honor
March 30, 2023 | Wrestling
GREENSBORO, N.C. – North Carolina wrestling 157-pounder and 2023 NCAA National Champion Austin O'Connor has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference's Co-Wrestler of the Year, the league announced Thursday morning.
O'Connor shared the yearly award with Pitt's 197-pounder Nino Bonaccorsi, as the tandem both represented the ACC with undefeated national championships in their respective weight classes this season.
This season, the Dan Hodge Trophy finalist went 23-0, which included seven major decisions, five falls, and four technical falls, on his way to being the ACC and NCAA Champion at 157-pounds.
The recognition is the ninth-time a Carolina wrestler has been awarded the conference's top honor, as O'Connor becomes the second UNC wrestler (Evan Sola – 2003, 2005) and seventh in ACC history to win the award multiple times.
Ranked first entering the NCAA Championships two weeks ago in Tulsa, O'Connor went 5-0 on the weekend, securing his second career national title with a 6-2 decision over Penn State's second ranked Levi Haines.
With his second championship, the Lockport, Ill. product became the second Tar Heel to win multiple National Championships in their career, joining T.J. Jaworsky, who competed the three-peat from 1993 to 1995.
O'Connor shared the yearly award with Pitt's 197-pounder Nino Bonaccorsi, as the tandem both represented the ACC with undefeated national championships in their respective weight classes this season.
This season, the Dan Hodge Trophy finalist went 23-0, which included seven major decisions, five falls, and four technical falls, on his way to being the ACC and NCAA Champion at 157-pounds.
The recognition is the ninth-time a Carolina wrestler has been awarded the conference's top honor, as O'Connor becomes the second UNC wrestler (Evan Sola – 2003, 2005) and seventh in ACC history to win the award multiple times.
Ranked first entering the NCAA Championships two weeks ago in Tulsa, O'Connor went 5-0 on the weekend, securing his second career national title with a 6-2 decision over Penn State's second ranked Levi Haines.
With his second championship, the Lockport, Ill. product became the second Tar Heel to win multiple National Championships in their career, joining T.J. Jaworsky, who competed the three-peat from 1993 to 1995.
Players Mentioned
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