GREENSBORO, N.C. – North Carolina wrestling 157-pounder and 2023 NCAA National Champion Austin O'Connor has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference's Co-Wrestler of the Year, the league announced Thursday morning.
O'Connor shared the yearly award with Pitt's 197-pounder Nino Bonaccorsi, as the tandem both represented the ACC with undefeated national championships in their respective weight classes this season.
This season, the Dan Hodge Trophy finalist went 23-0, which included seven major decisions, five falls, and four technical falls, on his way to being the ACC and NCAA Champion at 157-pounds.
The recognition is the ninth-time a Carolina wrestler has been awarded the conference's top honor, as O'Connor becomes the second UNC wrestler (Evan Sola – 2003, 2005) and seventh in ACC history to win the award multiple times.