People may believe Darrion Caldwell’s triumph in the 149-pound championship final in March was the pinnacle of Caldwell’s wrestling career – his crowning achievement.If those people talk to Caldwell, however, they would find out very quickly how wrong they are.Winning a national championship was a goal for the junior from Rahway, N.J., but it most certainly wasn’t the goal. The goal, the one above all else for Caldwell, is having a chance at making the Olympic team in 2012 and competing for a gold medal.”The Olympics is in a whole league of its own,” Caldwell said. “It’s like comparing high school to middle school or high school to college.”A goal that may have seemed off in the distance for Caldwell prior to his national championship match has now come much more into focus, maybe more than even Caldwell realizes.Caldwell’s coach, Carter Jordan, said he doesn’t think the wrestler quite realizes what the win did for his career and future in wrestling.”At this point now, because of the work he has put in, he’s put himself in a position where it’s really right in front of him,” he said. “It can be a little bit overwhelming because it becomes very realistic. It’s not a ‘pie in the sky’ imaginary goal.”Jordan said he knew as soon as the clock hit zero that Caldwell’s wrestling life would never be the same.”Because of the way in which he did it and who he beat, now it has obviously opened up Pandora’s Box because the Olympic level coaches have all begun to identify him as one of the guys that can be a representative of the United States in two years in London,” Jordan said. “If he’s wiling to put in the work he can make that happen.”In the coming weeks and months Caldwell will begin his quest of making the Olympic team in 2012 by beginning the process of working out with Olympic coaches and preparing for national team tryouts. Jordan said Caldwell will likely redshirt next season to focus on the opportunities before him.”People are starting to see my talent and what I can do in this sport and I guess people want to see what I can do on the next level,” Caldwell said. “I need to take some time off this next year to see if I’m on that level.”  What a difference a year makesCaldwell has certainly come full circle in his life both on and off the mat since this time last year. At that point, he and Jordan were locked in a disagreement which had Caldwell on the verge of transferring.The argument got ugly and very public, with Jordan, Caldwell and Caldwell’s family fighting it out in different media outlets. The two sides reconciled during the summer and Caldwell said things “got back on track.””Once we got back on track it was like the incident never even happened,” Caldwell said.Jordan said it’s amazing to think how different the last year could have been, both for Caldwell and for the N.C. State wrestling program. The two both said the entire situation is water under the bridge at this point.”I compared it to kind of like things that goes on in a family. I was extremely frustrated and very disappointed,” Jordan said. “Those types of frustrations and miscommunications are part of those things that happen in the family make the relationship stronger if you go through them the right way. We’re all closer now than we’ve ever been.”One of the reasons behind Caldwell’s desire to transfer last year was his wish to play football for a division one school, something he had attempted to do while at N.C. State. That, too, seems to be something Caldwell no longer sees as a priority.”I don’t think I’m going to try out for the football team. I think the opportunity to be on the Olympic Team is too great,” Caldwell said. “Why not go with what has gotten me here? The opportunity is so good I can’t pass it up.”Jordan said football has taken a back burner at this point because Caldwell has the chance of a lifetime.”You’re talking about things bigger than Carter Jordan or Darrion Caldwell,” he said. “You’re talking about representing your country. You have to pay attention to those things.”A program changing eventWrestling may be looked at as an individual sport more often than not, but don’t be mistaken – teams matter. Wrestling coaches try to build wrestling programs just as much as they try to mold individual wrestlers. For example, Iowa won the team title in 2009 without having a national champion in any weight class.Jordan said the impact Caldwell’s win will have on the N.C. State wrestling program cannot be understated. He even joked about how N.C. State wrestling cannot be ignored by other coaches around the country.”It’s like getting a half million dollar infusion of money into our budget. I have been on the phone about 12 hours a day,” he said. “When you produce a national champion and do it on ESPN it just puts your program in a completely different light. There is nobody who won’t take my phone call now, I wouldn’t think. ”