Injury forces Beazley to withdraw from NCAAs

Kevin Beazley

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan graduate student Kevin Beazley has withdrawn from the 2018 NCAA Wrestling Championships due to injury, head coach Joe McFarland announced Wednesday (March 7). Beazley, a 2017 NCAA All-American, was ranked as high as 10th in the most recent national rankings at 197 pounds.

"It's incredibly unfortunate," said McFarland. "We all really feel for Kevin. He was wrestling great before that injury occurred. It's just a really disappointing way to end a great collegiate career. He's been a big part of our success this season, and he's been a good leader in our room. He'll be traveling with the team next week, and I know he'll move on from this. He's got a lot more wrestling in his future."

Beazley took fourth place at the Big Ten Championships last weekend (March 3-4) to qualify for the NCAA tournament for the third time in his career. He was forced to injury default at the 3:45 mark of his third-place match against Wisconsin's Hunter Ritter, whom he had pinned in the quarterfinals the previous day.

Beazley, who transferred to Michigan from Old Dominion last summer, finished his collegiate career with a 119-61 record over his five competitive seasons. He claimed eighth place at 197 pounds at last season's NCAA Championships and was a Mid-American Conference finalist who placed top-four in three MAC tournament appearances. This season, he was 16-9 and, perhaps most notably, helped propel the Wolverines' to a 19-17 dual win at then-No. 4 Iowa -- U-M's first win in Iowa City since 2005.

The NCAA has been informed of Beazley's withdrawal from the tournament. He will not appear in the NCAA brackets to be released later today.

To whom it may concern, My folkstyle wrestling career has been cut about 12 days short due to an injury I suffered in the 3rd place match at the Big Ten tournament. I was prepared to do whatever it took to be on the mat in Cleveland, but unfortunately there isn't a doctor around that will clear me to return that quickly after dislocating my elbow. I'm sad to not be able chase my individual goals, but also devastated that I won't be able to help contribute to something very special for this team. It's easy to be upset in a situation like this, but I believe in God's plan no matter how unfair it may seem. With all that being said I'd just like to reflect a little bit. 1. I'm so thankful to have an amazing support system. My dad and Dacia didn't miss a single match my entire career. That's a lot of flights, driving through the night, and money spent just to watch me do what I love for 7 minutes. I can't thank them enough for what they've done. 2. Wrestling at ODU and UofM has given me the best teammates, friends, and coaches I could ask for. There's nothing like the bond you create when you go to war with people everyday. These friendships go way beyond the mat, but definitely were cemented in those rooms. 3. Soon I will have earned 2 degrees from incredible Universities. Wrestling gave me those opportunities. There are many other things to be thankful for, but I wouldn't trade those 3 things for any accomplishment or accolade. So, thank you all for one heck of a journey. This isn't the end of the book, just starting a new chapter! I love y'all

A post shared by Kevin Beazley (@k_beazley24) on March 7, 2018

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Injury forces Beazley to withdraw from NCAAs

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