Jordan Burroughs gets his hand raised after beating Isaiah Martinez at Final X (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)The biggest story of the Final X wrestling event in Lincoln nearly came between sessions.
Word circulated on social media Saturday afternoon that Olympic gold medalist and four-time world champion Jordan Burroughs had a close call before eventually making weight.
Burroughs said in a post-match interview that he actually had been under the 74 kilograms he needed to make weight, but there reportedly was a discrepancy between the check scale and the official scale that was used during weigh-ins.
That could have been disastrous with Burroughs being the featured attraction in Lincoln where he wrestled collegiately and where he has trained for the past 12-plus years. Not to mention the negative impact it could have had on the U.S. team for the 2019 World Championships.
But like he has so many times in his Hall of Fame career, Burroughs found a way. And he was on the mat in his familiar surroundings at the University of Nebraska's Devaney Center on Saturday night.
Burroughs had his hands full before pulling out a tough three-match series against two-time NCAA champion Isaiah Martinez in men's freestyle.
Burroughs, as clutch as any wrestler in U.S. history, earned a dramatic victory in the first bout with a last-second takedown before Martinez escaped with a 6-5 triumph in the second bout.
Burroughs came out strong in the deciding third bout, scoring two early takedowns to take command en route to a 7-1 victory.
Burroughs, who turns 31 next month, has made every U.S. World and Olympic Team at 74 kilograms since 2011. He won his four world titles in the odd-numbered years of 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017. That may bode well for him this year in 2019.
The U.S. will be sending strong men's and women's freestyle teams to this fall's World Championships in Kazakhstan. The Greco-Roman squad also has the potential to win some medals.
The only world team spot left to be decided is in men's freestyle at 79 kilograms. Reigning world champion Kyle Dake, granted an extension because of an injury, will face Junior world silver medalist Alex Dieringer at a later date for the final spot on the American squad.
The Dake-Dieringer series promises to provide plenty of drama. Dake edged Dieringer in a close match last year, but Dieringer has had an outstanding season. It will be an entertaining and hard-fought battle when they take the mat.
Here are the rest of my top takeaways from the Final X wrestling extravaganza in Lincoln.
Four-time world champion Adeline Gray was dominant at Final X (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Drive for five
Adeline Gray, as expected, rolled to the women's freestyle title at heavyweight in Lincoln. Gray is the reigning world champion and has captured four world titles since 2012. She continues to wrestle at a high level and has an excellent opportunity to become the first American to capture five world titles.
All hail Kyle
Kyven Gadson is a very good wrestler who could fare well on the world level, but we may never know with Gadson stuck in a weight class with Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion Kyle Snyder. It was all Snyder once again as he swept Gadson again to make his fourth world team. Snyder already is one of the best Americans of all-time and he showed why once again with a dominant effort. He's a strong, powerful and confident wrestler who is technically sound and is in tremendous shape.
Hafizov's persistence pays off
One of the best stories of the Final X was seeing Ildar Hafizov land a spot on the U.S. team. The 31-year-old, a 2008 Olympian for Uzbekistan, made the Greco-Roman world team at 60 kilograms. He hasn't seen his family in five years. He will now have that opportunity with the World Championships being held in Kazakhstan, which shares a border with his home country of Uzbekistan.
Daton Fix after beating Thomas Gilman at Final X (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Fix is in
Thomas Gilman has placed second and fifth in the world the past two seasons, but that didn't stop young phenom Daton Fix from powering to a spot on his first Senior world team at 57 kilograms. Fix, a Junior world champion, rolled to a 9-1 win in the first bout before Gilman fought back to win the second bout. Gilman led on criteria late in the third bout before Fix, second at the 2019 NCAAs as a freshman, scored late to prevail. Fix has wrestled extensively on the world level in age-group championships and he will be ready for the big stage on the Senior level this fall.
Ragan's recovery
Alli Ragan looks as poised, determined and strong as ever after making another women's freestyle team, this time at 59 kilograms. Ragan is a two-time world silver medalist who made the 2018 U.S. World Team, but was unable to compete after being injured. She has come back strong and has benefited from her training environment at the University of Iowa. Kayla Miracle, another wrestler who trains in Iowa City, broke through to make her first world team Saturday.
Heavy duty
Adam Coon supplied a huge spark for the U.S. Greco program by earning a surprise silver medal at his first Senior World Championships in 2018. Now Coon is back on the team and will be the leader on an American Greco team with a chance to have a strong showing in Kazakhstan and gain some momentum going into the 2020 Olympic year.
Green bounces back
World silver and bronze medalist James Green suffered a surprising setback to Ryan Deakin at the U.S. Open, but Green bounced back like many people expected by sweeping Deakin at the Final X. Green scored an 18-second win in the first bout, scoring a quick takedown and a succession of laces. Green scored late to earn a one-point win in the second bout to make another world team at 70 kilograms in men's freestyle.
Mango's mission
Ryan Mango has been close to making world teams for a number of years before he finally came through to make the Greco team at 63 kilograms. Mango is a dynamic and explosive wrestler who can unleash a spectacular throw in the blink of an eye. The younger brother of two-time Olympian Spenser Mango now receives his chance on the big stage. Ryan Mango has the capability to win a medal this year.
Hildebrandt takes care of business
Sarah Hildebrandt received a taste of the world finals in women's freestyle and now she's back for more after making the U.S. team at 53 kilograms. Hildebrandt has been the model of consistency and will look to improve on her silver medal performance from the 2018 World Championship.
Graff knocks off Colon
It was the hard-fought battle that many expected at 61 kilograms with returning world medalist Joe Colon facing long-time rival Tyler Graff. The men's freestyle series was extended to a full three matches before Graff won the final two bouts to make his first world team. Graff is another tough wrestler who was an NCAA runner-up and has also had his share of success on the international level. He has persevered through a lot of adversity as well before earning his shot on the world stage.
Hancock receives another shot
G'Angelo Hancock is still very young, but he's already knocked off some of the best wrestlers in the world in his Greco-Roman career. Hancock is another wrestler who has the talent and the tools to make it onto a world podium. Keep an eye on him at 97 kilograms in Kazakhstan.
Craig Sesker has written about wrestling for more than three decades. He's covered three Olympic Games and is a two-time national wrestling writer of the year.
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