In a conference that features a defending NCAA champion in Josh Glenn of American at 197 pounds and a number of other nationally prominent athletes, there can be an argument about which EIWA wrestler has the best chance to win the NCAA Championships in two weeks

Consider sophomore J.P. O'Connor of Harvard at 149 pounds.

O'Connor entered the tournament with a 22-1 record, and a No. 2 national ranking. He won his two matches so far in the EIWA with dominance, scoring a technical fall and a major decision. He will face Penn's Cesar Grajales in the championship finals tonight.

O'Connor was fifth at 149 pounds at the 2007 NCAA Championships, the first freshman in Harvard history to win All-American honors. In a year where the Harvard team has been crippled with injuries, O'Connor has risen above it all with a spectacular season. 

"He comes with a wrestling pedigree," said Harvard head coach Jay Weiss. "Above all, he is a better person than a wrestler. That is why he is successful. He always keeps his composure. He has developed into a great leader. He does everything right in training and in academics."

O'Connor is one of three New York state wrestlers to win four state titles, competing for the Oxford Academy. He was considered one of the nation's top recruits when he chose Harvard, a respected program with many other talented athletes. However, even as a freshman, Weiss realized that O'Connor, a biology major who wants to be a doctor, had something extra.

"He has a heavy course load. He trains harder than anybody. He cares about the team rather than his own success. He makes no excuses. This is one that comes by very infrequently for a coach," said Weiss. 

Weiss says that you can tell the most about O'Connor when things are going tough in other parts of his life, such as during the intensity of academic mid-terms and finals. His competitiveness is a part of every aspect of his life, not just wrestling.

"He is a winner. He has had some close bouts," said Weiss. "There was a point when he was dropping some weight, and had a heavy workload from school. For two weekends in a row, he did not have his best bouts at all, but he still won. He doesn't slip up, ever. He is a tremendous competitor."

Weiss likes to tell the story about how O'Connor found a quiet room at the hotel during last year's NCAA Championships, and was up late every night, studying past midnight. Some of the coaches were concerned, but Weiss knew it would be fine for him. That is how O'Connor approaches everything in his life.

As a wrestler, O'Connor brings tremendous skill and experience to the mat.

"He is very hard to score on. He is a nasty rider, and opponents can't get out on him. I don't think anybody has ridden him at all this year. He is solid in every aspect of his wrestling. He is not flashy. He's a grinder. His composure is amazing," said Weiss.

Harvard had one of the most challenging years in Weiss' career. During the season, he lost eight of his 10 starters to injury. Included were three wrestlers expected to challenge for All-American honors this year, Robbie Preston, Andrew Flanagan and Louis Caputo. In spite of it all, O'Connor has continued marching on, working daily to improve and lead by example.

"I don't know of any team that has gone through the adversity we did this year," said Weiss. "He didn't miss a beat. He kept the ship going. He has been focused. He just didn't let himself fall into that trap."