The last time Wolfpack fans had a chance to see Darrion Caldwell, he was fighting to get back on the mat to compete in the second round of the National Championships after dislocating his shoulder.
Three months after Caldwell was forced to bow out, he is still fighting to get back on the mat.
Caldwell traveled down to Florida for shoulder surgery performed by James Andrews, one of the more popular shoulder surgeons for Tommy-John surgery amongst professional baseball players.
“The surgery was really successful,” Caldwell said. “Dr. Andrews does a great job and he’s a real stand-up guy. I felt like I was in good hands with him. Now it’s just time to rehab and make sure his hard work pays off.”
For most athletes, to compete for a spot in the Olympics they must relocate to another part of the country to live out their dream. Caldwell’s experiences are not any different, as he has moved to Colorado Springs, Colo., to train with the best wrestlers in the nation.
While Caldwell, a Rahway, N.J. native, said he misses Raleigh, he also said he is enjoying his time with the National team.
“I love being here in Colorado,” Caldwell said. “I thought it was crazy in Raleigh where the weather could change so quickly each week. But in Colorado it can be three different seasons in one day. The altitude here keeps me in tip-top shape.”
Caldwell’s time in Colorado has been mostly spent with trainers and physical therapists; he has made friends with former 2008 Olympian Andy Hrovat.
“Andy Hrovat has been showing me the ropes,” Caldwell said. “He’s a former Olympian when they were in Beijing and a member of the National team. He’s been introducing me to the lifestyle and how to handle myself out here.”
Jordan said that the friendship he is building with Hrovat can only mean good things for Caldwell.
“Anytime you surround yourself with greatness, you will become great,” Jordan said. “If Caldwell is surrounded with guys who are doing the right things and know what to do, it should only make his experiences that much better.”
While Caldwell has been away from Raleigh for the past few months, he still talks to several of the N.C. State wrestlers in between training.
“I still talk to a lot of the guys from State to keep my head right,” Caldwell said. “I still keep close contact with Darrius [Little] and Quinton [Godley]. Those guys were my boys back at home, so I try to keep up with them.”
While Caldwell still has a lot of work to do in order to get back out on the mat, Jordan believes competing in the Olympics next summer is a definite possibility.
“It’s certainly something that he can do,” Jordan said. “Everything will be based on how well his shoulder heals, and how hard he works. He’s got as good a chance as anybody.”
Last year’s wrestler for the U.S. in Caldwell’s weight class, 66 kg, was Brent Metcalf. Caldwell and Metcalf have a bit of a history with one another after the 2009 National Championship match.
Caldwell won the match and proceeded to do a backflip on the mat, at which point Metcalf confronted him and pushed him in midair. It was Metcalf’s second loss in his first three years of collegiate wrestling; both losses came at the hands of Caldwell.
Even with all of the past issues between the two wrestlers, Jordan still believes the two will be able to put the past behind them.
“That’s over with, it’s done,” Jordan said. “But Darrion has an amazing gift for the sport and shouldn’t have to worry about anything like that.”
Though Caldwell still has a lot of rehabilitation to go through in order to get back out on the mat and compete for a spot on the National team, Jordan believes that the four-time ACC Champion should have no problem earning a spot.
“I keep telling him, as far as I’m concerned, that’s his spot,” Jordan said. “The only reason why he’s not there is because someone else is occupying it. If he gets that damn shoulder better he should have that spot easily.”
