O’Donnell attributes his turnaround, which included a fine performance in the EIWAs, to his renewed devotion.
“Earlier this season, I didn’t have the fire,” O’Donnell said. “I wasn’t into it. I had been wrestling for myself. Once I started wrestling for something other than myself—for God—then I started having success.”
“Before every match, I prayed. I prayed for my health, and for my opponent’s health. I prayed that my match can be glorifying to God. I live my life to glorify God, and that includes wrestling,” O’Donnell added.
O’Donnell was also adamant about thanking his teammates and coaches, particularly Weiss.
“He’s been more than a coach to me,” O’Donnell said. “He’s been like a father away from home.”
—Staff writer David A. Weinfeld can be reached at weinfeld@fas.harvard.edu.