After winning the 2009 NCAA wrestling championship at 149 pounds, Darrion Caldwell earned a spot on the U.S. National Team this past summer. He traveled to many places all over the world and had the opportunity to wrestle with world champions. On Friday it was announced that due to a shoulder injury, Caldwell will have to undergo surgery on Oct. 5 and will miss the upcoming season.
Caldwell still has one year of eligibility left at N.C. State and will be wrestling for the Wolfpack again during the 2010-2011 season. Technician Deputy Sports Editor Jen Hankin had the opportunity to talk with defending champion Caldwell about his injury and future plans.
Technician: When and how exactly did you get injured?
Caldwell: It was Labor Day weekend. Basically I was goofing off with my girlfriend and rollerblading and I ended up falling. It was actually pretty funny — like a blooper or something. But I mean it turned out to be a serious situation. That was the first time I ever rollerbladed and it didn’t turn out too well. But everything happens for a reason and I’m not really dwelling over it.
Technician: You won the NCAA Championship, which has been your goal all along, and earned a spot on the U.S. National Team. What were some of the best moments during these past few months?
Caldwell: Going out to Moscow and competing out there — it’s a great country and it was a great experience. Making the world championships was just one step closer to making it on the Olympic team in 2012. Being around the guys and traveling with the U.S. team, seeing how they train their bodies and how they prepare for big tournaments, I feel like that has helped me tremendously in college wrestling as well as beyond.
I have had great opportunities, being surrounded with Olympic champions, world champions, and just hearing guys like Bobby Douglas, Zeke Jones and Brandon Frey tell me, “There should be no close matches — you should be able to dominate everyone.” Hearing that from those types of guys is really a confidence boost and really helped me push myself harder.
Technician: What are your thoughts on taking a year off?
Caldwell: I feel like this is God’s wish on me. I can take this time and then get back on the road and get back on the cycle for 2012. I did get hurt though and I know that’s just a stepping stone. I feel like this is just getting me more mentally ready. With this break it’s just going to make me want it even more.
Technician: What are your plans for the upcoming year and what do you think your first break from wrestling in such a long time will be like?
Caldwell: I have taken some steps back from wrestling and basically been getting my academics together. Last semester, during the national championship, my grades fell off a little bit. I feel with this here, I’m going to concentrate on my grades. I also feel grateful to be able to act more as a coach, which is something I’ve always dreamed of doing.
Technician: Describe what your role and involvement with the team will be while you are injured.
Caldwell: I’m still a member of the team. My priorities haven’t changed. I have an obligation to my team; now instead of going to practice to wrestle, I’ll be going to practice to actually help them improve. I’m basically playing a coach’s role. I really feel like it will be beneficial for the team, since I’ve seen most of the competition that they are going to face. This is modern day wrestling, it’s different from 10 to 15 years ago when the coaches were wrestling. I feel like I can help them with the little small things.
Also I will be getting great experience. I am really looking forward to working out with the freshmen this year. I plan on being very vocal this year and building my leadership. Besides me being a leader on the mat, wrestling wise, I feel like this is going to be a great experience for me to be more of a vocal leader for the team.
Technician: Surgery is scheduled for Oct. 5. What is the timeframe, after surgery, when you will be able to start wrestling again?
Caldwell: I won’t be back on the mat till February. I have a four to six month recovery and I’m going take all the time to heal. I don’t want to come back early, I really want to wait about seven months just to be really cautious. My wrestling career doesn’t just stop with college, I’ve got at least 10 more years in this thing and I feel that if my body is right and I don’t wreck it now, it won’t be a problem in the long run.
