2011 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS JORDAN RULES!
World champion Jordan Burroughs sparks U.S. to third-place finish in team race. U.S. women tie for third.
By Craig Sesker ISTANBUL, Turkey – Jordan Burroughs had not wrestled a freestyle match in nearly three years when he stepped on the mat for April’s U.S. Open. Five months later, he’s a World cham-
pion.
Burroughs capped a phenomenal tour- nament and a memorable 2011 by sweeping 2010 World silver medalist Sadegh Goudarzi of Iran 3-2, 4-1 to cap- ture a gold medal at the World Championships on Sept. 18. "It's an amazing feeling right now," Burroughs said. "A lot of people doubted that I could even make the team this year. I am here, and I did it. I am feeling really good right now."
Burroughs, 23, competing in his first Senior World Championships, became the first U.S. World champion in freestyle since Bill Zadick in 2006. Burroughs com- petes at 74 kg/163 lbs.
"It felt amazing to be out there. Iran has an amazing crowd," Burroughs said. "I didn't want them to get involved, so I did my part and stayed with my offense. I felt good. I did some scrambling finally in a freestyle match. My coach told me not to reach between the legs. This time, that paid off and I got two points." The win by Burroughs also clinched third place for the U.S. in the team race. The U.S. finished with 38 points. Russia won the title with 43 points and Iran was second with 41. The U.S. made a quan- tum leap from last year where it finished 22nd with five points. U.S. wrestler Jake Varner won a bronze medal at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Americans Cael Sanderson (84 kg/185
6 USA Wrestler
Jordan Burroughs finishes a double-leg takedown against two-time World cham- pion Denis Tsargush of Russia. Burroughs won the match en route to capturing a World title on Sept. 18 in Istanbul, Turkey. Tony Rotundo photo.
lbs.), Tervel Dlagnev (120 kg/264.5 lbs.) and Nick Simmons (55 kg/121 lbs.) each placed fifth.
The U.S. qualified 5-of-7 weight class- es for the Olympics in freestyle at the Worlds. Three Olympic qualifiers remain to qualify the other two divisions for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Burroughs earned $50,000 from the Living the Dream Medal Fund for winning his World gold medal.
Burroughs clapped his hands as the final seconds ticked off the clock and then he ran over to the corner and jumped into the arms of his college coach, Nebraska’s Mark Manning, before embracing U.S. National Coach Zeke Jones.
Manning was in the corner when Burroughs won NCAA and World titles this year.
"Coach Manning did so much for me,"
Burroughs said. "I can't thank him enough. It has been an emotional day for me. I am excited about him being here to see me through it. (Nebraska assistant coach) Bryan Snyder is a big part of it. He has followed me all the way out here and through this World Championships." Burroughs, a native of Sicklerville, N.J., has been on quite a run since capping his college career with a second NCAA title for the Huskers in March. He won the Hodge Trophy as the college wrestler of the year and then jumped immediately into freestyle. He won back-to-back titles at the U.S. Open and the U.S. World Team Trials to earn a trip to Turkey. Before the U.S. Open, Burroughs last competed in freestyle at the 2008 Junior Worlds, where he placed 10th. Making Burroughs’ run even more impressive was he suffered a major knee
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