B.J. Futrell gets his hand raised after winning the Dave Schultz Memorial International at 65 kilograms (Photo/Larry Slater)B.J. Futrell has called it a career.
On Friday, Futrell announced his retirement from competitive wrestling in a letter to the sport of wrestling posted on Twitter.
Dear Wrestling,
�" B.J. Futrell (@WRESTLINGwFAITH) May 17, 2019
You asked for my hustle, I gave you my heart. Today, I officially announce my retirement from competitive wrestling.
Although I qualified for the World Team Trials I will not be competing. In God's sovereignty, I tore my ACL in the first round of the US Open... pic.twitter.com/HiXVcWEx4w
The former University of Illinois standout qualified for the World Team Trials at 65 kilograms this weekend in Raleigh, North Carolina, but was unable to compete due to injury. Futrell tore his ACL at the U.S. Open, which will require his eighth surgery in nine years.
He concluded his letter by writing, "Ultimately I am incredibly thankful for this journey because of all the people I met, the opportunities I had, and the personal growth I experienced. Most of all, I'm thankful for my wife, family, friends, fans, and sponsors that have supported me along the way. To all of you, I say thank you! It's the end, but really it's just a new beginning."
Futrell trained at the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center and represented the Titan Mercury Wrestling Club. He previously trained with the Cliff Keen Wrestling Club. Futrell placed as high as third at both the World Team Trials and U.S. Open. He was a silver medalist at the University World Championships in 2014. Prior to his international wrestling career, Futrell was a two-time All-American for the Illini.
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