“Forever in Debt”: Iowa Wrestling’s Kolby Franklin Meets Untimely Career End Weeks After Post-Surgery Recovery Went South

It’s not always that an athlete can reap the benefits of their talent to its fullest potential. Sometimes, unexpected potholes on the road can cause enough turbulence to cut short an athlete’s run in the big league. For Iowa’s redshirt freshman Kolby Franklin, that’s exactly what has happened, despite him being projected as one of the best recruits for the Hawkeyes in recent days.

The former Fargo Champion Franklin was expected to lock horns with Iowa’s prodigal son Zach Glazier for a claim to represent the school in the 197lb weight class. However, it looks like fate had other plans for the youngster, who needs to take a step back from dreaming big about his prospect in collegiate wrestling.

In his recent Instagram post, Franklin announced the decision to hang up his boots once and for all. “I gave 100% every day in constant pursuit of the goals I set for myself from a very young age…throughout my career I dealt with a lot of serious injuries“, wrote Colby in his post. In the same post, he revealed that he had been competing with an injured neck for several years, a lingering problem that prompted him to undergo surgery. However, his neck was injured while recovering from the surgery, and with that, his chances of extending his collegiate career also had to be bid goodbye.

However, in an emotional message, Kolby also said that wrestling taught him how to deal with heartbreak, while also giving him some incredibly memorable moments by teaching him about life itself. “For these lessons I am forever in debt to the sport“, confessed the Soldier Salute runner-up.

With his heartfelt message, Franklin also shared some snapshots of his life on the mat. From an early age, Kolby found his inkling toward wrestling, and it will undoubtedly be a loss for fans of the sport not to see this exceptional talent blossom further. However, Franklin isn’t the only one who had their fair share of run-ins with injuries.

Kolby Franklin is the latest name to take leave because of injuries

In 2020, Austin Gomez, another Iowan announced that he would retire from competing professionally, during his fourth year with the Hawkeyes, thanks to a long list of injuries. Some of these injuries were serious and also included concussions. Understandably, Gomez’s decision was met with general support from his teammates and coaches.

However, earlier this year, Austin revealed his intentions to return to action for one more year. “I was presented with a great opportunity, so why not take it? I have beaten a lot of top college guys and strongly feel this could be my year when it comes to winning a national title“, stated Gomez in January as he aimed to fill the 149lb spot for the Michigan Wolverines.

For wrestlers, injuries aren’t anything new. Even beyond the NCAA, injury remains one of the foremost reasons for wrestlers having to hang their boots despite having a fight left in them. Professional wrestling is another circuit where injuries can be serious and career-ending. Do you think Kolby has any chances of returning again in the future after battling his demons? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!