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Two of nan top competitors ever to deterioration a achromatic and golden singlet, Keegan O’Toole and Ben Askren, person officially announced their retirements from wrestling aft competing astatine RAF 11.
For existent Tiger fans, O’Toole’s status marks nan extremity of 1 of nan astir dressed up careers successful programme history. The Wisconsin autochthonal was a two-time NCAA champion, five-time NCAA All-American and nan program’s second-winningest wrestler of each time.
Beyond collegiate success, O’Toole established himself arsenic 1 of nan world’s champion freestyle wrestlers, capturing some U20 and U23 World Championship titles aft an accomplished prep profession that included 4 Wisconsin authorities championships, a Fargo inferior nationalist title and a Super 32 championship. While O’Toole’s days of competing connected nan mat are over, his effect connected Tiger Style is acold from finished. See his Rock M’my information for Best Coach.
He will stay pinch Mizzou arsenic an adjunct coach for nan 2nd consecutive season. His modulation from superstar jock to coach has fixed caput coach Brian Smith different proven leader successful nan room and provides continuity for 1 of nan nation’s apical programs.
O’Toole’s status comes alongside different wrestling fable stepping distant from competition. Askren, whose profession helped elevate nan Tigers into a nationalist power, officially closes nan book connected 1 of nan astir accomplished resumes successful schoolhouse history. Askren became Mizzou’s first two-time NCAA champion, winning nationalist titles successful 2006 and 2007 while reaching nan NCAA finals successful 4 consecutive seasons.
He was a four-time All-American, three-time Big 12 champion and a two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner, assemblage wrestling’s highest individual award. His power carried into freestyle, wherever he won nan 2008 U.S. Senior National Championship and nan 2008 Olympic Team Trials while collecting aggregate world medals.
Although Askren later became wide known for his mixed martial arts career, his wrestling bequest has ever remained intertwined pinch Mizzou Athletics. He was inducted into nan University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame successful 2012.
Together, O’Toole and Askren correspond 2 different eras that helped specify Tiger Style. Askren laid nan instauration for nan Tigers’ emergence connected nan nationalist stage, while O’Toole carried that contented guardant by becoming 1 of nan sport’s astir accordant champions. As 1 fable continues a caller section connected Mizzou’s coaching unit and different officially closes an unforgettable competitory career, their mixed effect will proceed to style nan Tigers’ civilization for years to come.
