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a determination that day if I was going to compete or not. Everything went well when I wrestled live against (Nebraska assistant coach) Bryan Snyder. After that day, I felt relieved. Zeke was going to allow me to compete and I felt like the ankle would hold up well after I wrestled live with Bryan. Opponents are resorting to different,


and often-times questionable tactics, to try and beat you. How do you cope with that dynamic? It’s definitely different. Guys are using


different styles and strategies and tactics against me, but I’m hard to rattle. Nothing really gets me off my game. I stay very calm and relaxed and focused on the mat. Guys are trying to get me to retali- ate, but I’m not going to let that happen. I kept my composure.


How does your performance in Budapest rank among the best you’ve had in wrestling? Under the circumstances, that was my best performance. It took a lot of faith and encouragement and perseverance to do it. It was very difficult, physically and mentally, but I believed I could do it. How important is the 67-match win- ning streak to you and how far can you go?


The streak is still important to me. I like being undefeated and it’s something I take a lot of pride in. My ultimate goal is 100 straight wins. I don’t really look at it as pressure. I just look forward to having the opportunity to keep winning. What has Nebraska coach Mark Manning, who coached you in college and internationally, meant to your career?


Coach Manning’s been huge for me.


He’s the man. He’s my partner in crime. He really cares about me, on and off the mat.


I totally believe in what he says and I completely trust him. When he asks me to do something, I do it without question. He’s a great coach who obviously knows me well and knows what works for me. I owe him a lot.


How much of a turning point in your career was your first year of college at Nebraska?


It was a big wake-up call for me. It was a huge jump going from high school to college, and I wasn’t ready for it at first. I couldn’t take guys down and I couldn’t get away when I was in the bottom posi- tion. It was a really tough and really frus- trating year for me. There were a lot of tough times. I was 16-13 that year. I hung in there and started to develop the work ethic that I have now. I started having


8 USA Wrestler


Burroughs defeated two-time World champion Denis Tsargush of Russia en route to winning the 2011 World and 2012 Olympic titles. Tony Rotundo photos.


more success toward the end of the sea- son and it was a huge turning point for me.


What kind of an impact has Nebraska assistant coach Bryan Snyder had on you?


Bryan Snyder has been so important to what I’ve done in wrestling. He’s been awesome. He wrestles with me and trains with me and coaches me. He’s helped me tremendously. You are halfway to John Smith’s American record of six straight World and Olympic titles. Is that still a realis- tic goal for you? It’s still a long way away. I have a huge appreciation for what John Smith has done because I know how hard it is to just win one title at this level. I have great respect for the history of this sport and what John has done. It’s incredible what he did. John’s the greatest. It would be great to have an opportunity to do what John Smith did, but it’s going to be tough. What did you learn from your over- time match with Kyle Dake at the World Team Trials?


Any time you have adversity, I believe it


helps you. There is a quote I like that says, a calm sea never made for a skillful sailor.


Having guys like Kyle Dake, David


Taylor and Andrew Howe in my weight class, there is a ridiculous amount of tal- ent right there. You have to be ready when you wrestle any of those guys.


So how do you approach and attack the 2014 season as you return to com- petition?


I’m just trying to follow suit. I’m always looking to improve. I want to try to keep adding to my arsenal and my repertoire. There is still a lot I can improve on. Until I tech fall everyone, I need to keep getting better. And I just need to keep having fun. I love this sport and I love to compete. You played a huge role during the fight to keep wrestling in the Olympics as a great spokesman for the sport. What did that mean to you when wrestling was voted to stay in the Games?


I was honored to do whatever I could to help the sport of wrestling. I’m so pumped to see wrestling stay in the Olympics. That was the most awesome news of the year when they voted to keep us in. It is so cool to see everyone’s dreams of wrestling in the Olympics stay intact. It meant a lot to keep the goals and dreams alive for all the young wrestlers out there. I’m very proud to be a part of this great sport.


So how long do you envision your- self competing in wrestling? The 2016 Olympics in Rio is the goal right now. It’s coming up fast. After Rio, I will reevaluate my career and see how I feel and how healthy I am. But for now, the goal is to wrestle at least through the next Olympics.


I’m excited to have an opportunity to compete in the Olympics again.


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