“I think our performance was good, for sure. Are we satisfied? No. We didn’t win the tournament and we didn’t have seven gold medalists.”
- Zeke Jones, U.S. National Coach
Zeke Jones
U.S. National Freestyle Coach leads team to strong showing at World Championships, builds momentum for Olympics
C
OLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Zeke Jones likes where the U.S. freestyle program is headed. Jones led the U.S. to a third-place finish at the 2011 World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. It was a huge turnaround after the U.S. finished 22nd at the 2010 Worlds.
The U.S. team was led by World champion Jordan Burroughs
and World bronze medalist Jake Varner. The U.S. also received fifth-place finishes from Nick Simmons, Cael Sanderson and Tervel Dlagnev.
The U.S. qualified 5-of-7 weight classes for the 2012 Olympic Games. Three more Olympic qualifiers remain in early 2012. The U.S. won its first team trophy in freestyle since the American freestyle squad finished third at the 2006 World Championships. Jones, a past World champion and Olympic silver medalist, just completed his third season as U.S. National Coach. Jones talked with USA Wrestler editor Craig Sesker during an interview shortly after the U.S. team returned home from the World Championships.
8 USA Wrestler
Zeke Jones led the U.S. to a third-place finish at the 2011 World Championships. Larry Slater photo. At right, Jones disputes a call. Tony Rotundo photo.
Reflecting back on the Worlds, what were your overall impressions of the U.S. performance? I think our performance was good, for sure. Are we satisfied?
No. We didn’t win the tournament and we didn’t have seven gold medalists. Until we get to that point, I don’t think any coun- try would be satisfied. It’s good reinforcement for the guys, knowing that the plan they are following is working. It was great
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