From Shoulder Surgery To A Championship Victory

After running cross country and long-distance events in high school, Michael O’Connor wanted a new challenge when he arrived at Michigan State University. A campus announcement for the rifle team tryouts caught his eye — and sparked a lifelong passion.

“I made the All-Big Ten my freshman year and was on the first team for the following three years,” recalls the now 66-year-old Grass Lake resident.

That passion didn’t stop after college. Michael later became coach of the University of Michigan Club Rifle Team, guiding them to multiple national championships over the past 20 years.

Outside the range, the retired Consumers Energy forestry operations manager stays active with gardening, wood carving (specializing in songbirds and ducks), and traditional black ash basket making.

A ladder fall that changed everything

In the summer of 2022, Michael’s active lifestyle came to an abrupt halt. While doing housework for his mother, he fell from a ladder — just three feet off the ground — but landed hard.

“When the ladder collapsed, I hit my shoulder on the edge of the utility sink causing major pain and injury to my right shoulder,” he says. Michael also underwent several months of physical therapy which restored some motion, but the pain did not subside.

For months after the injury, Michael’s quality of life plummeted. “I couldn’t practice rifle shooting or do any of my normal activities. I was only sleeping two hours per day, and my blood pressure went up because of the pain,” he recalls.

Two local orthopedic surgeons told him they couldn’t perform the surgery he needed. That’s when he turned to his sister, Mary O’Connor, M.D., a former U.S. Olympic rower and nationally recognized orthopedic surgeon, for guidance.

Choosing Henry Ford Health for complex shoulder surgery

“We knew the surgical repair would be complex and that led us to the health system that provides care for the professional sports teams,” Michael explains.

With his sister’s help, he met with Patricia Kolowich, M.D., orthopedic surgeon at Henry Ford Health and team doctor for the Detroit Red Wings in November of 2023 who walked him through the recommended surgical repair in detail and offered the option he’d been seeking. Dr. Kolowich explains that imaging and the clinical evaluation showed that Michael had a very large rotator cuff tear. Out of the four main rotator cuff tendons, about two and two thirds of them were badly torn and beyond repair. In addition to the surgical repair, the recommended physical therapy and recovery was estimated at 18-24 months.

Surgery, rehabilitation, and a successful recovery

In the spring of 2024, Dr. Kolowich performed the extensive surgical repair at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital.

“Given Michael’s goals of continuing highly competitive shooting and performing strenuous farm labor we elected to proceed with an arthroscopic superior capsular reconstruction with partial repair of any salvaged tendon over the graft and then open repair of the subscapularis tendon. To ensure healing of the anterior tendon, an additional scaffold was placed over the repair to enhance healing,” she explains. The surgery involved rebuilding the damaged area with a special graft, repairing part of the remaining tendon, and then fixing another tendon through an open incision.

Following the surgery, Michael underwent rehabilitation at Henry Ford Physical Rehabilitation – Jackson, including sling immobilization, followed by active-assisted range of motion and progressive strengthening to regain his motion and strengthening.

Dr. Kolowich explains his recovery was on pace and Michael was able to meet his goals of resuming his normal activities and competitive shooting.

“At six months, Michael regained functional range of motion and was beginning limited weekly rifle practice despite persistent weakness. By one year, he was performing farm work and continuing to shoot once weekly. At nearly two years postoperatively, he reported only mild activity-related aching and returned to his preinjury activities, including competitive shooting,” says Dr. Kolowich. “Careful surgical selection, adherence to structured rehabilitation, and patient compliance were critical to the successful outcome.”

From surgery to national champion

Two years after his surgery, Michael won the 2025 NRA Smallbore Three-Position Championship at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Ohio — the first senior (age 65+) to ever do so.

The Smallbore Three-Position Rifle Championship tests competitors’ precision and endurance by requiring them to shoot from three positions — prone, standing, and kneeling — at small targets over long distances. Winning demands extreme stability, control, and accuracy.

Michael also claimed the Lones Wigger Iron Man Trophy, awarded to the top overall national smallbore rifle shooter after eight consecutive days of competition.

“I was told this is the first time a senior ((65+) has won the Three-Position Championship,” he proudly states. “Thanks to Dr. Kolowich and the team at Henry Ford, the successful surgery and rehabilitation allowed me to compete at the highest level and achieve two national records,” he says proudly.

A lesson in advocacy and persistence

Michael encourages others not to stop seeking answers when facing medical challenges.

“I’m so appreciative of the excellent care that Dr. Kolowich provided to not only successfully surgically repair my shoulder but also the specific physical therapy I would need to continue to heal,” he says. “The entire staff was great, and it made all the difference. I’m very glad I kept pushing to find the right treatment that worked.”

For more information and to request and appointment, visit shoulder surgery treatment options at Henry Ford Health.