IRVING, Texas — Missouri freshman Keegan O’Toole was voted 2022 Big 12 Wrestler of the Year by league coaches after capping off a perfect season with both the conference and national titles in the 165-pound weight class.The merit is the first in program history for the Tigers.

O’Toole was the only Big 12 wrestler to go undefeated in 2022, finishing with a 25-0 record after taking the gold at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship. He was also the only freshman to compete in a national championship match, taking down the returning champion, Shane Griffith of Stanford, in a 6-5 decision to earn the crown. O’Toole became a two-time All-American after going 5-0 in the national tournament, posting decision wins against Ohio State’s Carson Kharchla and Michigan’s Cameron Amine in the quarterfinals and semifinals.

The Hartland, Wisconsin native picked up his first Big 12 title with victories over Oklahoma’s Joe Grello (6-1 dec.), North Dakota State’s Luke Weber (12-3 MD) and West Virginia’s Peyton Hall (13-7 dec.). He led the Conference in weekly awards with two this season, earning Wrestler of the Week honors on November 16 and February 15.

O’Toole finished 2022 with a team-best 16 bonus-point victories and joined J’den Cox and Ben Askren as the only wrestlers in Mizzou program history to complete perfect seasons. The freshman was named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week on March 22 and received the Hammer Award from Amateur Wrestling News for winning the NCAA’s most competitive weight class.