Ex-Shaler wrestler Heinl's college career comes to sudden end

Michael Heinl thought there might be a chance everything would be normal.

The 149-pound Washington & Jefferson senior wrestler already had made the trip with teammate Hunter Neely to the NCAA Division III national championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

But Heinl found out less than 24 hours before the tournament was supposed to start March 12 that it would be canceled because of the coronavirus. His career wrestling with the Presidents wrapped up with Heinl being one victory short of the school record.

“We just got back to the hotel room after a workout,” said Heinl, a Shaler Area graduate. “We knew our coach had a meeting before the workout ended. They were handing out six wristbands to the coaches for our family members who could go. Then the NCAA came out with their statement and we all found out together.”

Learning the season was suddenly over was a crushing blow for Heinl. W&J won its first Presidents’ Athletic Conference team title since 1999 as Heinl collected his third conference championship along the way.

At the Southeast Regional, the Presidents placed fourth with Heinl going 3-1 and finishing as the runner-up.

Along the way, he collected his 123rd career victory, putting him one win behind Sonnieboy Blanco’s school record.

“It still doesn’t feel like it’s real,” Heinl said. “Obviously, I was disappointed. There are certain things I have zero control over. I just have to move on from it.”

Heinl, who went 30-6 this season, was set to make his second straight trip to nationals. The road back was more difficult during his senior year.

“At the beginning of the year, I was having a rough start,” Heinl said. “You just never know. I was thinking toward the end of the year, I wanted to peak at the right time.”

Even though Heinl’s career ended before he would have liked, there are still options for him moving forward.

His dad owns a club team — One More Period Wrestling — and is the coach of Quaker Valley’s wrestling team.

While the future is uncertain, Heinl is happy with what he accomplished as a President.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my teammates and coach (Tommy) Prairie and coach (Jeff) Breese. They had my back from Day 1,” he said. “It hasn’t hit me that it’s all over. I have so many good memories at this school and in the wrestling room. I’m proud to say I wrestled W&J. I gave it my all.”