GoDuke.com Catches Up with Conner Hartmann

DURHAM, N.C.-Redshirt sophomore Conner Hartmann will return to the mat for the Blue Devils at the ACC Championship for the first time since suffering an injury Jan. 6. The 197-pounder is 17-8 overall for the year and has been ranked throughout the year, including coming in at 30th in the final NCAA RPI rankings of the season. GoDuke.com sat down with the Port Orchard, Wash., native to talk about returning to wrestling and what he's worked on lately.

GoDuke.com: How has the progress been and what are your emotions on returning?

Conner Hartmann: The progress has been great. I'm really happy to be able to compete again. Mostly I was just raring to go and upset I couldn't wrestle and having to do what I can in sitting and cheering my teammates on. It's really good to be back and help the team physically again.

GoDuke: Where is your confidence level right now?

CH: I actually feel really good. A lot of people would probably be like, 'Oh no I've been off wrestling for a long time,' but I've had great coaching obviously and that helps a lot. They've prepared me and we've had a chance to patch up some problems I had before I got injured and I think I'll come back even better than I was before.

GoDuke: What from a wrestling standpoint have you been working on?

CH: Technique wise I've been working on neutral, tightening things up and making small adjustments mostly. Top and bottom I haven't had too many problems and I was doing really well before, just mostly honing that and keeping it up to par.

GoDuke: How have you maintained your fitness during the injury period?

CH: At first I was worried about that. It's one of the things I really like to do is be in good shape so I can hopefully break some people on the mat. To stay in shape I mostly was aerodyning, which is biking - a bike where you use your arms too so I would try and get full body workouts. I wasn't allowed to run so I was biking and I was swimming in the pool a lot to keep my cardio up.

GoDuke: How excited is the team for the ACC Championship?

CH: We are really excited and we know we can do big things. We're going to make a big difference, especially from last year I know that.

GoDuke.com Catches Up with Conner Hartmann

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Conner Hartmann

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GoDuke.com Catches Up with Conner Hartmann

Players Mentioned

Conner Hartmann

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