Chris Connelly
2008 Hall of Fame Inductee
Very few athletes can say their most memorable experience in playing their sport is also one of their bigger letdowns.
Chris Connelly’s third place finish as a senior at the NCAA national wreslting tournament was his highest career finish at the National Tournament. The high placement helped JCU finish fifth as a team that season.
“Being able to come back after losing my first match was big for me,” Connelly said. “But my goal was to win a national championship and I didn’t accomplish that. If I had more eligibility I would be back out there.”
Being able to lead his team to a fifth place finish as a senior came after a 15th and 17th team finish in previous seasons. Connelly took home a second All-American selection in 1993 to accompany the 1994 selection. In an individual sport being able to carry his team to a top-ten finish was icing on the cake for the 158-pound wrestler.
“We [the team] always pushed each other,” he said. “When the team can do well because of you and your teammates it is that much more special. “
Wrestling remains part of Connelly’s life now as he teaches seventh grade math at North Royalton middle along with duties as the wrestling coach. Along with his double major in sociology and communications Connelly took away, what he feels, a coach’s philosophy should be from Kerry Volkmann.
“He never made it all about wrestling for us,” Connelly said. “He broke it up and made it more exciting. That was a major reason I chose JCU over a Division I school where you do nothing but wrestle.”
Connelly finished his career with 89 wins. At the time it was good for seventh on the JCU all-time list. He also took two regular season individual titles at the Ohio Northern Invitational and the OAC Duals.
As part of the Blue Streak wrestling fraternity Connelly sees many former JCU wrestlers and even former teammates. As a coach in the area Connelly noted that he sees someone from JCU at many of the tournaments he attends. Paired with his curriculum wrestling allowed Connelly to get where he is today.
“It is a tough sport,” he said. “It takes a lot out of you and people don’t always appreciate that.”