Carew to undergo knee surgery to repair two ACL tears

University of Iowa 149-pounder Dylan Carew confirmed Sunday that he will undergo surgery to both knees, which will end his season before it barely began.

Carew, a red-shirt freshman, posted a 2-0 record, expects to have surgery Wednesday at the University of Iowa Hospitals to repair anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament tears in his right knee and an ACL tear his left knee suffered in two separate incidents in practice.

He made the decision Sunday and it was one that was hard to swallow. He finally earned the opportunity to be in the Hawkeyes' lineup only for injury to postpone any major accomplishments. Carew described the news as devastating.

“It's a tough decision,” Carew said. “I've waited a long time to be in the position I am and start working toward my goals. It's hard to accept the fact that this year's probably not going to happen."

Carew, a two-time state champion at Iowa City West, has been plagued by knee injuries dating back to high school. He injured his left knee six weeks ago, but came back to win two matches at the Iowa City Duals on Nov. 19. Last Monday, Carew suffered the second injury.

“I got back to where I was wrestling pretty tough again,” Carew said. “Then last week I got hurt again and my other knee got hurt last week. I had MRIs done and it turns out I have two ACL tears and a tear to my MCL.

“I decided today (Sunday) that it was the best thing to do. I can wrestle with one hurt knee and compensate it with the other one but two hurt with two major injuries it's going to be pretty tough.”

Recovery and rehabilitation will last from six to eight months. Carew said he hopes to come back sooner, improving and being stronger than ever. Agroup, which included head coach Tom Brands and Carew's family, presented Carew with facts, but the final decision came down to him. He said he is tough enough to battle through if he had to but this was the best decision.

“It boiled down to me making the decision for what's best for my year and more or less for my career,” Carew said. “Really to get four strong years of competition.”

So that would mean competing through his senior season and then attempting to secure a medical red-shirt. Carew is optimistic that will occur.

“That's what I'm hoping for,” Carew said. “I'll wrestle the next three years and then apply for a medical red-shirt.”

For now, Jeret Chiri is expected to hold that spot for the Hawkeyes. Chiri went 2-0, including a fall and decision, in his debut Friday against University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and Cornell College.