J.P. O'ConnorJ.P. O'Connor doesn't have to imagine it. He lives that life as Harvard University's starter at 149 pounds, concentrating in biology with the goal of one day being a physician.
The sophomore is 22-1 this season, his only loss being to Darrion Caldwell of North Carolina State. Last year, J.P. created something of a sensation, wrapping up his freshman year by placing fifth at the 2007 NCAAs, becoming the first freshman All-American in the long history of Harvard's wrestling program.
Coach Weiss weighs in
"(J.P. O'Connor) successfully balances academic, athletic and social aspects of his life," according to Harvard head coach Jay Weiss. "That demonstrates his incredible work ethic."
"His academic load is incredible. At the NCAAs, he would spend evenings in this quiet room off the hotel lobby, studying until midnight. We'd have to tell him, 'You need to go to bed.'"
"We've battled injuries this year, with eight starters out, and both captains out," continues Coach Weiss. "J.P. has stepped up into the leadership role."
"He's an unbelievable young man. He was a leader as a freshman."
"He's not just focused on himself, but on the big picture."
Coach Weiss sums up his praise of his second-year 145-pounder: "He's one of those guys who comes along only once in 10-15 years."
Little wonder that J.P. O'Connor was the top recruit in his weight class out of high school.
Back to the beginning
Ask J.P. O'Connor how he got started in wrestling, and he responds, "I was a second grader. My primary school gym teacher was also the high school wrestling coach. He asked if I would like to be the team manager, with the idea that I'd come to practice, see what the sport was all about, and take it up."
"It's interesting, because no one in my family was a wrestler. My dad played basketball."
"I loved it from the start."
"As I got progressively better, my folks started backing me more, and my passion for wrestling grew."
High school superstar
As a student at Oxford Academy -- a public school in the town of Oxford, in upstate New York -- J.P. O'Connor wrote an incredible wrestling resume. In high school, his overall record was 238-12. He was a five-time sectional champion (starting in seventh grade -- he placed third in eighth grade), and first-team all-conference section from 2001 through 2006. Perhaps most notably, he won four New York state championships … only the third wrestler in state history to do so (the others being Cornell's Troy Nickerson and Harvard grad Jesse Jantzen). (To read a RevWrestling profile of Jesse Jantzen, click HERE.)
When asked about winning four state titles, J.P. responds, "The competition was pretty intense, with new challenges every year."
"I have good feelings about all four titles … The one title that stands out the most for me was the last. The respect that was shown to me, the appreciation demonstrated for what I had accomplished, that really stays with me."
"I went into every title quest one step at a time."
"I was blessed to have a great high school coach, Scott Green. He really emphasized that I could be successful if I stuck to the plan. He was also my coach at the Shamrock Club, which I'd like to think is the best freestyle and Greco club in New York State."
Goal!
J.P. O'Connor had started in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling about five years into his mat career. However, while still in grade school, he stepped back from freestyle and Greco wrestling for a while to participate in baseball and soccer.
"Along about seventh and eighth grade, I took up freestyle and Greco again."
"I think I was a better soccer player than wrestler up to my freshman year (in high school)," claims J.P. "Soccer did great things for my stamina and athleticism."
The captain of both his soccer and wrestling teams, J.P. speaks fondly of both sports:
"Soccer and wrestling both let a guy my size excel in a sport, letting me use my God-given gifts."
In high school, J.P. O'Connor demonstrated that his gifts extend far beyond the soccer field or wrestling mat. He was a member of the National Honor Society, a recipient of the U.S. Army scholar-athlete award, and the RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) Computing medal.
The rigors of recruitment
With his considerable athletic and academic credentials, it's little wonder that J.P. O'Connor was heavily recruited while still in high school.
J.P. O'Connor gets advice from Harvard coach Jay Weiss"I knew that I wanted to go a school with great academics. In the grand scheme of things, you have to look out for the rest of your life."
"I grew up about one hour from Ithaca (New York). Some folks expected me to go to Cornell (University)," discloses J.P. "I went on the recruiting trip to Harvard, and was very impressed with what I'd call the 'family atmosphere.' It was very much a team, everyone working together for common goals."
"A big part of it was Coach Weiss' influence, too."
"It was a great experience but I'm glad I don't have to go through it again," continues J.P. "You build these warm relationships with various coaches, and then, eventually, you have to make a decision."
"I'm extremely happy to have chosen Harvard."
"Integrity is so important here. The goal is to help you grow as a person."
When asked if it was pure coincidence that he followed in the footsteps of the first four-time New York state champ, Jesse Jantzen, in selecting Harvard, J.P. O'Connor replies, "I know Jesse, but I actually know Corey Jantzen even better, from our trips to Fargo. There may have been some motivation to follow in Jesse's footsteps. I'd like to be like him, to win a national title, and be successful in international competition, too."
A fantastic first year at Harvard
Ask J.P. O'Connor to describe his freshman year at Harvard, and he immediately responded, "Awesome!"
J.P. O'Connor"I benefited so much from working with Jesse Jantzen and Jamil Kelly, two great coaches. I learned so much from them, improved all year long."
In his first year at the Cambridge, Massachusetts school, J.P. achieved great things. He compiled a 37-8 record � the most wins by a freshman in the history of the program. He was a finalist at the 2007 EIWA conference championships, losing to Cornell's Jordan Leen … but placing second automatically qualified him for the NCAAs.
Motown memories
The first-year Crimson 149-pound starter from Oxford, New York made the trip to the Palace of Auburn Hills outside Detroit for the 2007 NCAA Division I wrestling championships… and came home with incredible memories, and All-American honors.
"We had a post-NCAA meeting, to tell the rest of the team what it was like," says J.P. O'Connor, who was seeded sixth. "Words failed me. Nothing could compare to the raw emotion and intensity of the experience."
"The first time I went into the arena to work out, to see how everything was set up -- to be on the mats, in the same place where guys I respect were also working out -� it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life."
"The weight of the whole event really hits you. One mistake can seal your fate, or, on the other hand, one great move can put you in the history books."
"I feel like I peaked at the right time."
In his first match at the 2007 NCAAs, J.P. O'Connor shut out Wyoming's unseeded Carter Dowling, 5-0. In his next bout, the Harvard frosh took on Iowa State's Cyler Sanderson, seeded eleventh, and beat the Cyclone 4-2 in overtime.
In the quarterfinals, J.P. wrestled home-crowd hero Josh Churella … and lost to the third-seeded Michigan Wolverine, 8-5. That sent the New York native into the consolation bracket.
"I remember the Round of 12 most clearly -- win the match, and get All-American. I looked into my opponent's eyes and realized that he's going for the same goal."
The opponent was Aaron Martin of the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, who J.P. had wrestled before -- and defeated -- at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. The Harvard frosh got a 6-3 win over the eighth-seeded UTC wrestler to assure himself of All-American honors. J.P. then edged Indiana's Matt Coughlin, 4-3 TB … but lost to top-seeded Dustin Schlatter of Minnesota, 5-4. In the match for fifth place, J.P. defeated Wisconsin's Tyler Turner, 6-4, and became the first Harvard wrestler to achieve All-American status as a first-year student.
For all these accomplishments, J.P. O'Connor was named second-team All-Ivy, and earned Co-Ivy League Rookie of the Year and EIWA Freshman of the Year honors.
Where things stand today
As a sophomore, J.P. O'Connor says things are a lot different now. "My role on the team is different now. I feel the guys are looking to me as a quiet leader. I like that feeling."
"Right now, I'm focused on the conference tournament and the NCAAs. It's crunch time."
From head coach Jay Weiss' perspective, J.P. is equipped to handle the crunch. When asked to comment on his 149-pounder's style, he fired off a string of positives: "Tenacious. Hard to score on. So good on top."
"Last year, he never doubted our direction. He was always open to us, which makes him a coach's dream"
The toughest challenge
"It's an absolute challenge to balance academics and wrestling," according to J.P. O'Connor. "My days are filled -- morning workout, classes, afternoon workout, studying. But the sacrifices I make now should pay off later."
"I'm not a genius but I have a real strong work ethic, and I'm incredibly focused."
J.P. O'Connor"As a high school senior, I was in a program called New Visions, where I spent a half-day in a hospital, doing 2-3 week rotations. I've seen autopsies, surgeries. The program really helped me to focus on a medical career."
"I'd like to think that my education and my personality will help me be a compassionate doctor."
In the meantime, J.P. O'Connor continues to make a name for himself in arguably the toughest academic program at one of the nation's top universities … while successfully competing in the toughest sport -- wrestling.
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