An instant classic: Burroughs vs. Taylor
A look back at how the epic match unfolded in the U.S. Open finals By Craig Sesker
LAS VEGAS – It was one of the most amazing, dramatic and best wrestling matches you will ever see at any level. Throw out any glowing adjectives you want in describing what happened when Jordan Burroughs met David Taylor in the U.S. Open freestyle finals on April 19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. They all apply. Taylor, the two-time Hodge Trophy winner and two-time NCAA champion, gave Burroughs everything he wanted and then some in an epic finals battle that has become an instant classic. Taylor came out gamely and stunned virtually everyone in seizing a 4-1 lead after the first period. Taylor led 6-3 late in the match before Burroughs staged a furious and improba- ble late-match rally in pulling out a wild 7- 6 win at 74 kg/163 lbs.
Burroughs, an Olympic gold medalist and two-time World champion, is now a remarkable 81-1 on the Senior level and won his third Open title. Burroughs defeated Taylor in the finals of the 2013 U.S. Open, but this time the match was much closer and much more dramatic. We may see these two studs battling again in the finals of the U.S. World Team Trials, set for May 31-June 1 in Madison, Wis. We may be treated to two, and possibly three, matches between those two young stars if they both reach the best-of-3 final round at the Trials.
Here is how their epic battle unfold- ed in Las Vegas:
Burroughs fires in on a single-leg shot
right off the opening whistle to Taylor’s right leg. Burroughs elevates the leg and
8 USA Wrestler
David Taylor spins out of trouble early in the match after Jordan Burroughs shot in on a single-leg attack in the U.S. Open freestyle finals. Tony Rotundo photo.
is close to finishing before Taylor coun- ters beautifully by looping his leg over the top of Burroughs to avoid being taken down.
Burroughs is awarded a point in the sequence with 2:40 left in the period. The point is given under the new rule where you score one point when you are behind an opponent’s hips and they have three supporting points on the mat. The opening sequence continues and
Taylor locks up a near-side cradle near the edge of the mat and rolls Burroughs to his back to expose for him for two points. The momentum carries Burroughs out of bounds with 2:30 left in the first period. Taylor leads 2-1 and the crowd erupts as the underdog Taylor takes a surprising early lead.
The score remains 2-1 until Burroughs drives in on another single-leg attack to Taylor’s right leg with 40 seconds left in the first period, but Taylor sprawls back to stop the shot. Following a restart, Taylor fires in on a low ankle shot and finishes for a two-
point takedown to take a stunning 4-1 lead with 20 seconds left in the first peri- od as the crowd of 2,000 fans roars in approval.
The flurry of action kicks into high gear midway through the second and final period.
Burroughs fires straight in on a power- ful blast double-leg shot and drives Taylor to his butt to cut Taylor’s lead to 4-3 with 1:27 left.
Burroughs tries to go right to a leg lace
off the takedown, but is unable to gain a turn.
The crowd is really into it now, and many are on their feet as it’s a one-point match late in the second period. Burroughs shoots in again, trying to
take the lead, but Taylor clamps down and locks up another near-side cradle near the edge and rolls Burroughs to his back again for two more exposure points. Taylor leads 6-3, the crowd is going crazy and he has Burroughs in big trou- ble with 53 seconds left.
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