Darrion Caldwell won the 2009 NCAA title at 149 pounds. Larry Slater photo.

Taking a little break from wrestling hasn't been the worst thing in the world for Darrion Caldwell.

The 2009 NCAA champion from North Carolina State is not competing this college season after undergoing shoulder surgery this past fall.

'The break has been good for me,' said Caldwell, who has one season of college eligibility left. 'I wrestled a full college season last year and then I went right into freestyle wrestling. Sitting out, I feel really refreshed now. I can't wait to get back on the mat. I'm even hungrier now to win another NCAA title, and then hopefully win a World and Olympic title down the road.'

Caldwell's magical 2009 season included an upset win over returning NCAA champion and Hodge Trophy winner Brent Metcalf of Iowa in the NCAA finals in St. Louis. He followed two months later by placing third in freestyle wrestling at the U.S. World Team Trials in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Caldwell said he injured his left shoulder while roller blading in early September.

'I was on vacation, and I was just out having a good time,' he said. 'I was going down a hill, and when I tried to stop I turned and posted my left hand on the ground. I took a tumble and rolled a couple of times. My shoulder kind of collapsed and popped out of joint. I was in excruciating pain ' it hurt pretty badly.

'I popped my shoulder back in myself.'

Caldwell suffered a torn labrum during the mishap. He had surgery Oct. 6, and said he hopes to be back on the mat sometime this spring.

'The shoulder is still weak, but it's getting better and my range of motion is starting to come back,' he said. 'I've been riding a bike and doing some other things to stay in shape. I don't want to rush back too soon. I want to be 100 percent before I come back.'

Caldwell said he doesn't expect to wrestle in the U.S. Nationals in late April, but said he could return for June's U.S. World Team Trials.

He placed a surprising third at the 2009 World Team Trials. He beat Olympian and World Team member Doug Schwab in that event. Caldwell competes at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

'I improved so much in freestyle,' he said. 'I hadn't wrestled freestyle in a few years, so I didn't even know a lot of the rules when I started practicing freestyle. It was a great experience for me.'

Caldwell spent time at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs before and after the World Team Trials. He also trained overseas and competed in an event in Azerbaijan.

'I benefited tremendously from training at the Olympic Training Center,' Caldwell said. 'Zeke Jones, Brandon Slay, Bill Zadick ' the coaches they have out there are so knowledgeable. They taught me so much. Those guys have all won at the highest level. I was learning techniques and strategy I had never seen before. I was like a sponge. I tried to absorb as much as I could. It was a very good learning experience. I can't wait to get back out there and train again.'

Caldwell's win over Metcalf was considered one of the biggest upsets in NCAA history. He beat Metcalf 11-6 in the 2009 NCAA finals at 149 pounds. That snapped Metcalf's 69-match winning streak.

'Nothing was going to hold me back from winning that match,' Caldwell said. 'I don't remember ever finishing second in a tournament at any level. Whenever I've made it to the finals, I've finished the job. A lot of people didn't think I could beat Metcalf. He's obviously a great wrestler, but my coaches and my teammates believed in me and kept telling me I was going to win. I've always been real confident in my abilities.'

Caldwell is taking classes at North Carolina State and said he's on track to graduate in December 2010. He said he's focused on winning his second NCAA title in 2011, and then looking ahead to even bigger goals.

'I have a lot of work to do to get back to where I was,' he said. 'It's not going to be easy. This injury, it's a setback. But I'm ready to come back even stronger than I was before. I still have a ton of room for improvement.

'Winning an Olympic gold medal, that's what I'm ultimately chasing. I want to win the gold. I will not be satisfied with an Olympic silver medal or an Olympic bronze medal or anything less than that. I want to win a gold medal in the Olympics. I feel like it's a realistic goal for me.'