Keegan O'Toole looks 'more than ready' to return for Missouri wrestling

Keegan O’Toole’s return to the wrestling mat is much anticipated for Missouri and college wrestling fans alike.

The No. 1 ranked 174 pounder and two-time NCAA champion was sidelined due to injury for nearly two months but is set to return February 22nd for Mizzou’s dual against Iowa State.

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InterMat’s James Hackney was on hand for the Tigers’ Tuesday morning practice and got to see O’Toole back in action.

“Got to check out a (Mizzou Wrestling) practice this morning ahead of the Iowa State dual. Very excited for the return of (Keegan O’Toole) who looks more than ready to make a return,” he wrote on Twitter. “Must watch dual this weekend for a great senior class!”

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Missouri’s been hampered by season-ending injuries this year, including to 125 and 197 pounders Noah Surtin and Rocky Elam.

O’Toole, who came back for his final season, was sidelined for quite a bit, causing worry about his college wrestling future. But, he’s set to return and pursue a third NCAA title, putting him in an elite class.

“I’ll be back one more time for the Mizzou fans,” O’Toole said. “Pack the Hearnes Feb 22nd!”

O’Toole is 99-4 in his career at Missouri, across five seasons. A win Saturday will push him to the century mark ahead of the Big 12 and NCAA Championships.

He’s currently 11-0 on the season with his last match coming in December, which was a win over No. 2 Levi Haines (Penn State), 4-1 in sudden victory.

As a freshman during the 2021 season, a shortened campaign due to COVID, O’Toole went 19-1 and finished third at NCAAs at 165. Other than this year at 174, O’Toole’s been a career 165 pounder.

Over the next two seasons, O’Toole went 45-2 and won two NCAA titles and developed a rivalry with Iowa State’s David Carr.

Carr stunned O’Toole 7-2 and by pin in matches in a dual and the Big 12 finals in 2023. O’Toole got the last laugh with an 8-2 decision in the NCAA finals.

Last year, O’Toole went 24-1 en route to a third place finish with Carr getting in his way. O’Toole beat Carr 8-2 in the Big 12 finals before a rematch in the NCAA semifinals.

Carr won a thrilling 8-6 decision en route to his second NCAA title in 2024. O’Toole ended the tournament with a tech fall over Stanford’s Hunter Garvin and a 12-8 decision over Iowa’s Mikey Caliendo.

The biggest roadblock this year’s title is certainly Haines, last year’s 157 pound champion. But with the time off and recovery, if O’Toole can recapture the magic for this last run, he’s going to be tough to beat in March.