In Times of Injury, O'Connor Steps Up Big

One of the most challenging figures to cover in sports is the humble superstar.

Loud, arrogant all-stars have plenty to say about their outstanding skills and performance, but Harvard sophomore wrestler J.P. O’Connor doesn’t like to flaunt his All-American talent.

“He cares just as much, if not more, about how everyone else is performing,” head coach Jay Weiss said of the second-ranked grappler in the nation at 149 lbs.

While O’Connor might hesitate to acknowledge his greatness, the results of his first two seasons speak volumes.

In a stellar rookie campaign, the Oxford Academy graduate posted an all-time best 37-8 record for a Crimson freshman and placed fifth at the NCAA tournament, earning All-American honors.

Coming into this year, the 149-lb. standout faced the highest expectations as he rose to third and eventually second in the rankings, but among his teammates and coaches, who know him well, no one was surprised to see him meet the challenge.

“As far as pressure, he thrives on that,” Weiss commented. “I don’t think he’s nervous at all.”

Senior tri-captain Robbie Preston added, “He doesn’t even care about the rankings. He’s the same as last year, just as motivated.”

O’Connor certainly has not shown any sign of nerves on his way to posting a phenomenal sophomore season, going 22-1 while maintaining an undefeated record in 13 dual meets.

Claiming the number one seed in the upcoming Eastern tournament and presumably number two at Nationals, the 20-year-old is poised to improve on last year’s finish and make a run at the NCAA title.

“After a good season you just try to build on momentum,” O’Connor said. “I’m just going to try to keep that going through to Nationals.”

Without question, O’Connor has represented a force in the Crimson lineup on the mat. In 22 wins he’s logged four major decisions, one fall, and a technical fall, often giving Harvard a huge boost in scoring.

But, despite this brilliance on the mat, O’Connor contributes most to the team when he’s not competing.

“He’s probably even more valuable off the mat,” fellow sophomore Andrew Knapp said. “The way he works in practice every day is pretty inspirational. He’s focused the entire time.”

Knapp was not alone in praising O’Connor’s attitude.

“JP was a strong performer last year and I could tell he wanted to lead,” Weiss observed.

Due to the seemingly endless string of injuries this season, the second-year grappler got his chance earlier than expected.

“With both captains hurt, I didn’t have to say anything,” the coach explained. “He just took charge.”

Although he jumped at the chance to take on the role, O’Connor was unsure how he would adjust.

“I’ve always struggled to be vocal and in the past just tried to lead by example,” the sophomore reflected. “So this year I made a conscious effort to put myself out there more, to be seen as a leader.”

Needless to say, the All-American adapted seamlessly and the entire squad noticed the effect.

“Even though he’s a sophomore, [O’Connor] is one of the best leaders I’ve ever seen,” Preston marveled. “He may not have the title of captain, but he really brings the team together.”

The sophomore’s devotion to the team seems even more impressive, considering the struggles of Crimson wrestling this season. In a disappointing year that yielded only two team victories, more selfish stars might have turned inward, shifting their focus to personal success.

Yet, in a sport that emphasizes individual effort, O’Connor cannot resist putting the team first.

“Even today [with the team season over], he was in my office talking about the team,” Weiss said, with clear admiration. “He’s just risen to a great level.”

Although Harvard’s next Ivy League season is a long way off, O’Connor already knows his goals for next year.

“We had high goals this year of being ranked in the top 10 nationally and with a very talented group coming back I think we’ll work for that again,” he said. “Hopefully, after we heal up we can also challenge Cornell for the Ivy title.”

While it is clear that O’Connor has a bright future as a leader and role model for the Crimson, the fact remains that the next few weeks represent an incredible personal challenge. With countless fierce competitors looming in the tournaments, the sophomore has plenty of preparation ahead of him.

“The plan is the same as last year, compile film, look at all the competitors and see what he needs to work on,” Weiss explained.

“He has one goal,” Preston added. “And everyone knows what that is.”

If all goes according to plan, O’Connor can continue his humble refusal to gloat. His national championship medal can do all the talking.