Jordan Burroughs made his seventh straight U.S. team (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)LINCOLN, Neb. -- Two Olympic medalists -- one a gold medalist and one a bronze medalist -- found themselves on the brink of defeat at the Freestyle World Team Trials on Saturday night.
Both wrestlers, Jordan Burroughs and J'den Cox, dug deep and found a way to win.
The 28-year-old Burroughs, wrestling in front of his home crowd in Lincoln, Nebraska, came from behind to beat Kyle Dake in the finals at 74 kilograms and punch his ticket to August's World Championships in Paris, France.
We're going to Paris! pic.twitter.com/KqH22wy14T
��" Jordan Burroughs (@alliseeisgold) June 11, 2017
"With Kyle being back down [at 74 kilograms], I understand that, listen, this guy's nipping at your heels," said Burroughs, a 2012 Olympic champion and three-time world champion. "I understand I'm getting older, a little bit slower. It's a little bit harder to get up in the morning and go to practice. And I know he's still hungry to make a team. But this is seven in a row for me. I don't know if there is anyone in this arena who has made seven teams in a row, so it's pretty special."
Kyle Dake throws Jordan Burroughs for four points in their second match (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Dake, a four-time NCAA champion at Cornell, appeared to be on his way to making his first World Team after edging Burroughs in the first match on criteria, and then racing out to a 3-0 after the first period in their second match. Burroughs, with his back against the wall, came back to win 8-4 and force a third and deciding match.
Burroughs scored a takedown and turn in the first in the first minute of the third match to go up 4-0. He extended his lead to 6-0 with just under 30 seconds left. Dake would add two points off step outs in the final 20 seconds, but come up short.
"I'm usually the last match of the night, and they put Kyle [Snyder] last, so I wanted to be last," Burroughs joked. "So I think it was cool that I was able to be the last match regardless. It wasn't planned, though."
J'den Cox gets in on a shot against David Taylor in the finals at 86 kilograms (Photo/Mark Lundy, Luttte-Lens.com)Cox, an Olympic bronze medalist in Rio, dropped his first finals match at 86 kilograms to world No. 6 David Taylor 9-3, and trailed 2-2 on criteria after the opening period of the second match. Cox scored a takedown in the second period and held on for a 4-3 victory to extend the series to a third match.
In the third match, Cox scored first off the shot clock and then picked up a late first-period takedown to go up 3-0. Taylor came out fast and furious in the second period, getting in on a single leg and driving Cox to the edge of the mat for a takedown.
Cox, while trying to defend the shot, suffered an injury to his knee. After receiving medical attention, Cox continued the match but was in pain and struggling with the injury.
Taylor stayed aggressive and scored with a step out to take the criteria lead. Cox, though, continued to battle and scored a step out point from a cradle position to retake the lead, 4-3. With just over a minute left, Taylor attacked Cox, but slid out of bounds in the process, giving Cox another point. Leading by two points with a minute left, Cox, who struggled to even stand, stayed active, fended off Taylor's attacks and held on for a gutty 5-3 victory.
"I wanted this," said Cox, a three-time NCAA champion for Missouri. "This is something I shot for. This was my goal to go for. It's either give up on your dream, give up an opportunity, or go fight for what you want. That was the choice."
Kyle Snyder gets his hand raised after beating Kyven Gadson in the finals at 97 kilograms (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Olympic and world champion Kyle Snyder dominated Kyven Gadson in two straight matches at 97 kilograms to make his third straight U.S. team. Snyder was all over Gadson in the first match, scoring three takedowns, two step outs and a turn to secure a first-period 10-0 technical fall. The second match was more of the same as Snyder rolled to a 13-2 technical fall in the second period.
"This is kind of the tournament I get the most nervous for because if I lose then it's like, 'What do I do with my summer? I was planning on competing and training really hard.' So I'm glad I'm on the team now and I guarantee I'll do everything I possibly can to be ready for any challenger in the world," said Snyder
One potential challenger standing in his way is Olympic champion and two-time world champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev of Russia, who is moving up to 97 kilograms.
"I've watched him wrestle a lot," Snyder said of Sadulaev. "I know a lot about him. I know a lot about his technique and the way he competes. I like watching him, not really to scout, but just learn from him, pick up some of his things."
World champion Logan Stieber topped Kendric Maple in the finals at 61 kilograms (Photo/Mark Lundy, Lutte-Lens.com)World champion Logan Stieber topped Kendric Maple in two straight matches to earn a spot on the World Team at 61 kilograms. Maple, a U.S. Open champion, pushed Stieber in the opening match, jumping out to a 6-0 lead on the strength of three consecutive takedowns. But Stieber battled back to win 8-7. The second match was much different than the first as Stieber dominated from start to finish. He went up 8-0 after the opening period, and then put the match away a minute into the second period with a takedown.
James Green won the title at 70 kilograms in front of his home crowed in Lincoln, Neb. (Photo/Mark Lundy, Luttte-Lens.com)James Green, a 2015 world bronze medalist, made his third straight World Team at 70 kilograms by defeating Jimmy Kennedy in two straight matches. Green blanked Kennedy 7-0 in the first match. In the second match the two wrestlers traded takedowns in the first minute and the score remained 2-2 until the closing moments of the first period when Green scored a takedown and turn to go up 6-2. He would hold on to win 8-5.
"It feels great in here in front of the Nebraska fans," said Green, who is ranked No. 2 in the world at 70 kilograms by United World Wrestling. "They gave me a big cheer every match, every time they said my name. So it was just good to get a win, get that feeling again of what it's like to wrestle in front of one of the greatest audiences here in Lincoln."
What an exciting world team trials and it happened right here in Lincoln, Nebraska #Awesome
�" James Green (@WhoIsJamesG) June 11, 2017
Thomas Gilman (57 kilograms), Zain Retherford (65 kilograms) and Nick Gwiazdowski (125 kilograms) became first-time U.S. World Team members.
Thomas Gilman swept Tony Ramos in the finals at 57 kilograms (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Gilman, who qualified for the Freestyle World Team Trials by winning the Last Chance Qualifier, entered Saturday's challenge tournament as the No. 8 seed at 57 kilograms. He defeated three NCAA champions in the challenge tournament to reach the finals against Tony Ramos. Gilman swept Ramos in two matches, winning by scores of 4-3 and 7-2, to make his first U.S. World Team less than three months removed from his college wrestling career.
"It was my goal," Gilman said of winning the World Team Trials. "I got it checked off. I didn't get what I wanted a couple months ago … Who cares? I'll never be an NCAA champion. I'm over that. I'm going to be a world champion."
Zain Retherford after beating Frank Molinaro in the finals at 65 kilograms (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Retherford, a past Cadet world champion, earned a spot on the World Team before his senior season at Penn State. He defeated 2016 Olympian Frank Molinaro in three matches at 65 kilograms. Molinaro edged Retherford 7-6 in the first match. But Retherford came back to win the finals two matches by scores of 6-0 and 7-4.
Retherford said he took a step back after the college wrestling season and refocused.
"Even during this season I was putting too much pressure on myself midway through the season and I had to make some small adjustments, and be free ... and just focus on what's important to me, and that's having fun in wrestling," said Retherford.
Nick Gwiazdowski beat Dom Bradley to make his first World Team at 125 kilograms (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Nick Gwiazdowski made his first U.S. World Team by beating past junior world champion Dom Bradley in two consecutive matches at 125 kilograms. Gwiazdowski controlled the first match, winning 5-1. Bradley appeared to be on his way to winning the second match after scoring a step out point with 14 seconds left to take a 2-1 lead. But Gwiazdowski was able to get a step out point of his own with under five seconds left to pull out the victory.
Excited to have the opportunity to represent the USA! Thanks to all those behind me coaching and sponsors! @WolfpackWC @NittanyLionWC
— Nick Gwiazdowski (@NGWIZZZ) June 11, 2017
Attendance for the final session was 4,622.
Finals Results
57 kilograms: Thomas Gilman defeated Tony Ramos, 2 matches to 0
Match 1: Gilman dec. Ramos, 4-3
Match 2: Gilman dec. Ramos, 7-2
61 kilograms: Logan Stieber defeated Kendric Maple, 2 matches to 0
Match 1: Stieber dec. Maple, 9-8
Match 2: Stieber tech. fall Maple, 10-0
65 kilograms: Zain Retherford defeated Frank Molinaro, 2 matches to 1
Match 1: Molinaro dec. Retherford, 7-6
Match 2: Retherford dec. Molinaro, 6-0
Match 3: Retherford dec. Molinaro, 7-4
70 kilograms: James Green defeated Jimmy Kennedy, 2 matches to 0
Match 1: Green dec. Kennedy, 6-0
Match 2: Green dec. Kennedy, 8-5
74 kilograms: Jordan Burroughs defeated Kyle Dake, 2 matches to 1
Match 1: Dake dec. Burroughs, 6-6
Match 2: Burroughs dec. Dake, 8-4
Match 3: Burroughs dec. Dake, 5-3
86 kilograms: J'den Cox defeated David Taylor, 2 matches to 1
Match 1: Taylor dec. Cox, 9-3
Match 2: Cox dec. Taylor, 4-3
Match 3: Cox dec. Taylor, 6-2
97 kilograms: Kyle Snyder defeated Kyven Gadson, 2 matches to 0
Match 1: Snyder tech. fall Gadson, 10-0
Match 2: Snyder tech. fall Gadson, 13-2
125 kilograms: Nick Gwiazdowski defeated Dom Bradley, 2 matches to 0
Match 1: Gwiazdowski dec. Bradley, 5-0
Match 2: Gwiazdowski dec. Bradley, 3-1
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