Gold medalist Jordan Burroughs Continued from page 18


he got it. That’s what champions do,” said National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones. It has been an amazing year for Burroughs in 2011, winning the NCAA Championships, the U.S. Open, the U.S. World Team Trials, the World Championships and the Pan American Games in succession. “This has been a great year. I’m along for the ride. I can’t believe how success- ful I have been. Hopefully, I can keep the ball rolling,” said Burroughs. Varner won his gold medal match over


Luis Vivenes of Venezeula, 6-0, 2-0. Varner earned a first-period technical fall, then controlled the action to close out the match in the second.


“I went out and did what I had to do to


win. You can always wrestle better. You can critique yourself pretty hard, but I did what I had to do,” he said. Varner did not allow a single point in his three matches, outscoring his oppo- nents, 24-0. Varner won his first match against Israel Silva of Mexico, 2-0, 5-0. In the semifinals, Varner stopped Khetag Pliev of Canada, 3-0, 6-0. “You can’t score on Jake. His defense is too good,” said Jones. “He has per- haps the best stance in the world. You can’t score on a guy you can’t get out of position.”


The silver medal went to Obe Blanc


(Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) at 55 kg, a late replacement for injured Nick Simmons.


He was defeated in the gold-medal match by Juan Ramirez of the Dominican Republic, 1-0, 2-1. Ramirez won the first period on a clinch. In the second period, Blanc led 1-0 and officials gave Ramirez a pushout with one second left to win. The U.S. protested but the call was


Gold medalist Jake Herbert


Gold medalist Jake Varner


strong guys get tired,” said Ware. The men’s freestyle team used the momentum from its third-place finish at the 2011 World Championships in Turkey while in Guadelajara.


“Coaches Bruce Burnett and Dan


Gable talked about putting together back- to-back performances. We didn’t win the World Championships but we had a good performance, and we had a good per- formance here at the Pan Am Games. That is telling us that we are doing the right things. Our men are training hard and are focused on what we have to get done. We will continue that momentum throughout the year,” said Jones. The U.S. women’s freestyle team had three entries, and all three reached the championship finals. The highlight came at 55 kg with a gold medal from Helen Maroulis.


Gold medalist Tervel Dlagnev


upheld, and Ramirez got an additional point.


“I didn’t see (the point). I don’t know. The video didn’t show anything. I started out a little too late. His style is very defensive, blocking all the time. In the second period, I opened him up, but it was still too late. Lesson learned,” said Blanc.


Capturing a bronze medal was Teyon


Ware at 66 kg. He won his bronze-medal match against Edison Hurtado of Colombia, 1-1, 4-1, 6-0. After losing the first period, Ware wore Hurtado down, winning a tight second period. He domi- nated the third period for a technical fall. “I give myself a C for my wrestling. It


let’s me know I have a long way to go. I told myself I had to fight back hard in the bronze match. He’s a strong guy, but


Maroulis defeated two-time Olympic medalist Tonya Verbeek of Canada in the finals, 1-0, 0-7, 3-0.


Maroulis won the first period on a take- down from the clinch position. Verbeek rebounded with a second period technical fall, getting a takedown then turning Maroulis repeatedly with an ankle lace for exposure. In the deciding third period, Maroulis countered a Verbeek throw attempt for two points in the closing sec- onds of the period. When Verbeek protested, the call was held up and Maroulis received another point. “I am really happy. I’m excited I got the opportunity to wrestle here and to wrestle Tonya. It was awesome,” said Maroulis. “I always believe I can come back. In the second period, she rolled me up. I had to let it go. It was over. The third period was about wrestling smart, and pushing the pace. That was my advantage.”


Continued on page 32 19 USA Wrestler


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