COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Two years away from the mat, Oneonta State sophomore Greg DuVall made a triumphant return helping the Red Dragons capture the team championship last weekend at the Will Abele Invitational hosted by Ursinus College.

A Division II state place finisher for Sherburne-Earlville his senior year, DuVall was set to debut for Oneonta last year before suffering a torn ACL the third day of practice. DuVall, a sophomore academically, received a medical hardship for the year and retained his freshman status athletically. Still, there was the business of rehabilitating a serious knee injury. These days, it seems like a given for an athlete to return to competition better than ever. (See Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings). But that is never a sure thing.

“There are a lot of thoughts that go through your head after major surgery,” DuVall said Monday. “It’s not like a meniscus tear.”

Following successful surgery, DuVall hit the weight room hard putting on 35 pounds of additional muscle. He came to Oneonta over a year ago weighing slightly north of 178 pounds with the intention of wrestling at 165 pounds. Before starting winter practice 2 1/2 months ago, he was well over 200 pounds with barely an ounce of fat.

The tough workouts under head coach Duane Ritter helped DuVall drop weight, and the S-E grad certified at 184 pounds. Knowing that he wasn’t quite in wrestling shape, DuVall sat out the first two months of the season before making his return.