USA men’s freestyle stars start on Friday and are seeking to win big at end of Rio Games
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
J'den Cox, Jordan Burroughs and Frank Molinaro of the USA freestyle team meet the press in Rio. The time for talking ends with the start of freestyle on Friday. Photo by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors.
The United States qualified a full six-person men’s freestyle wrestling team for the 2016 Olympic Games, and has an interesting mix of talented veterans and exciting young stars looking to make their mark at the highest level. There will be three days of men’s freestyle action at the Carioca 2 Arena in Rio de Janiero., the final three days of the Olympics, Friday, August 19 through Sunday, August 21.
The USA team had an active summer of competition and training. After the team was formed, they were part of the American team entered in the 2016 Freestyle World Cup in Los Angeles, Calif. in early June. Members of the team also participated in the Grand Prix of Germany in early July. The domestic camp was held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. They arrived in Rio on August 4, attended the Opening Ceremonies on August 5, and have done their final training at the Lonier High Performance Training Center right here in Rio de Janeiro.
There will be two weight classes contested each day during the men’s freestyle competition. Each day will feature one U.S. athlete who is a past World or Olympic medalist, and one athlete who is competing on his first U.S. Senior-level team.
The first day of men’s freestyle will include 2012 Olympic champion and three-time World champion Jordan Burroughs (74 kg), along with Daniel Dennis (57 kg) on Friday, August 19.
Many regard Burroughs as the best pound-for-pound wrestler in the world, with an unbelievable 129-2 record on the Senior level. His only loss at either a World Championships or Olympic Games came in the 2014 World semifinals to three-time World champion Denis Tsargush of Russia, who is not entered in the Rio Games. Burroughs was injured in that 2014 World meet and wrestled back for the bronze. He is the leader of the American team, and could be the most popular athlete in the sport.
Burroughs was asked to compare coming into the Rio Games with his first Olympic experience in London four years ago.
“The approach has remained the same for me. This has always been a significant event, with the Olympic Games only every four years. There is a lot of notoriety worldwide and people understand that this is the most important tournament for wrestlers to bring home an Olympic gold medal. The significance remains the same, but the circumstances change. Since London, I have become a family man. I have won a few more titles. I have put myself in a position of prominence within our sport. So, I guess you could say I am a veteran, but I am excited to treat this treat this tournament as if it was my first time,” said Burroughs.
Dennis, an NCAA runner-up for the University of Iowa, took a number of years off from the sport, but came back in 2015 with a renewed focus and spirit. He was No. 2 in the USA at 61 kg in 2015, then dropped to 57 kg for the Olympic year and won the Olympic Trials.
“I think the break I had was really more of a mental break than anything, a physical break a little bit. Taking that time off really helped me be healthy again, and to get more motivated to make a run for an Olympic gold,” said Dennis.
Next up on Saturday, August 20 is two-time World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev (125 kg) and the exciting young J’den Cox (86 kg).
Dlagnev is competing in his second Olympic Games, after placing fifth in the 2012 Olympics. His World bronze medals were in 2009 and 2014, and he was fifth at the 2011 and 2013 Worlds. Dlagnev made the 2015 World Team but was unable to compete because of injury. He faces a familiar field when he steps out on the mat in Rio.
“Since London, I have wrestled all the guys. We all have wins and losses over each other. It has been kind of the same group of guys, with just a few new guys. When you keep wrestling these guys, it gets tougher trying to figure out something different to get over on them. You are wrestling the same people, so you try to do what you can to get better,” said Dlagnev.
Cox, a two-time NCAA champion for Missouri, made the move down to 86 kg in the Olympic Trials, and ran the table as the No. 9 seed, beating Kyle Dake in the finals series. He qualified the USA for the Games with a win at the World Olympic Qualifier in Mongolia. He was impressive in action at the Beat the Streets Dual, the World Cup and the German Grand Prix.
“I have improved by loads. It is a big testament to the guys on this team, giving me insight and knowledge, not only on wrestling but also on how things are carried out and how to carry yourself and how things are supposed to work out. It is also coming through coaching. Coach (Bruce) Burnett and Coach (Bill) Zadick have helped me out tons. I don’t pretend that I know everything about this style of wrestling, but I know how to wrestle and I know how to work hard and I know I’ll give everything I got. These things, combined with the great coaching and great leadership in front of me, I can do great things,” said Cox.
Closing out the Olympic Games on the final day of competition on Sunday, August 21 are 2015 World champion Kyle Snyder (97 kg) and Frank Molinaro (65 kg). Because the Closing Ceremonies are being hosted that evening, the session times have been moved up earlier, with the preliminaries starting at 8:30 a.m. and the second session, with repechage and medal matches starting up at 12:45 p.m.
Snyder became the youngest U.S. Senior World champion, when he won the gold medal at 19 years old in Las Vegas last September. He also boasts a 2013 Junior World title, won at age 17. Snyder came out of Olympic redshirt in January and won the NCAA heavyweight title for Ohio State in March.
“Wrestling in the Worlds last year, I was able to wrestle some of the same opponents that I will be competing against at this Olympic Games. It was great for me to wrestle them and get a feel for them. Winning the worlds gave me more confidence in my wrestling, a little bit of more strident in my step on the mat because of that accomplishment. This winter, this spring and even this summer, I have been able to wrestle some of the top competitors has allowed me to grow as a wrestler and feel good about my preparation when I compete on August 21st,” said Snyder.
Molinaro, a past NCAA champion for Penn State, has focused on freestyle this Olympic cycle, with his best previous finish being third at the World Team Trials in 2014. He was a No. 9 seed going into the Olympic Trials, where he battled through a strong field and beat Junior World silver medalist Aaron Pico in the finals. He has had some impressive wins during a busy spring and summer of international competition.
Frank and his wife celebrated the birth of a new son, Frank, who was born back in the USA after Frank had left for Rio. Molinaro talked about the importance of family support to his Olympic quest.
“I think the biggest thing is the sacrifice that my family has made. My wife quit her job and we moved back to Penn State when I decided to wrestle again. She gave up her career for my dreams and the sacrifices she is making now with two kids at home. My family has always put me in a position to win. I switched high schools when I was a sophomore and moved into a summer house so I could be in a better environment for wrestling. My parents have always sacrificed to put be in a better position for wrestling and my wife does it now, and I am very grateful to have that support system,” said Molinaro
In 2014, National Freestyle Coach Bruce Burnett came out of retirement in 2014 for his second stint as National Coach, previously leading the program from 1993-2000, including the 1996 Atlanta Games and the 2000 Sydney Games. He looks forward to helping this group of athletes as they pursue Olympic success.
“It is always exciting to represent your country. It is also always exciting to have the opportunity to coach elite athletes and help them reach their dreams. They spend a long time trying to get to where they are. I promise you as a coaching staff, we don’t want to mess that up. We try to match their intensity and their passion and work ethic, and try to help them to the best of their abilities. The coaching staff we have is very good. They are very experienced. I think I coached five of these guys’ individual coaches in the past. It has always been an adventure for me to come back, and I’ll say it has also been an adventure for my wife as well,” said Burnett.
The United States has been a dominant power in men’s freestyle wrestling, with 49 gold medals, 36 silver medals and 25 bronze medals. In the most recent Olympics in London in 2012, the USA had a pair of Olympic champions, Jordan Burroughs (74 kg) and Jake Varner (96 kg).
OLYMPIC WOMEN’S WRESTLING SCHEDULE
Friday, August 19 – Freestyle 57 kg, 74 kg (USA entries - Dennis, Burroughs)
10:00 a.m. - 57 kg and 74 kg Qualification and Elimination rounds
4:00 p.m. - 57 kg and 74 kg Repechage, Gold Medal and Bronze Medal Matches and Ceremonies
Saturday, August 20 – Freestyle 86 kg, 125 kg (USA entries - Cox, Dlagnev)
10:00 a.m. - 86 kg and 125 kg Qualification and Elimination rounds
4:00 p.m. - 86 kg and 125 kg Repechage, Gold Medal and Bronze Medal Matches and Ceremonies
Sunday, August 21 – Freestyle 65 kg, 97 kg (USA entries - Molinaro, Snyder) - different session times!!!
8:30 a.m. - 65 kg and 97 kg Qualification and Elimination rounds
12:45 p.m. - 65 kg and 97 kg Repechage, Gold Medal and Bronze Medal Matches and Ceremonies
The United States qualified a full six-person men’s freestyle wrestling team for the 2016 Olympic Games, and has an interesting mix of talented veterans and exciting young stars looking to make their mark at the highest level. There will be three days of men’s freestyle action at the Carioca 2 Arena in Rio de Janiero., the final three days of the Olympics, Friday, August 19 through Sunday, August 21.
The USA team had an active summer of competition and training. After the team was formed, they were part of the American team entered in the 2016 Freestyle World Cup in Los Angeles, Calif. in early June. Members of the team also participated in the Grand Prix of Germany in early July. The domestic camp was held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. They arrived in Rio on August 4, attended the Opening Ceremonies on August 5, and have done their final training at the Lonier High Performance Training Center right here in Rio de Janeiro.
There will be two weight classes contested each day during the men’s freestyle competition. Each day will feature one U.S. athlete who is a past World or Olympic medalist, and one athlete who is competing on his first U.S. Senior-level team.
The first day of men’s freestyle will include 2012 Olympic champion and three-time World champion Jordan Burroughs (74 kg), along with Daniel Dennis (57 kg) on Friday, August 19.
Many regard Burroughs as the best pound-for-pound wrestler in the world, with an unbelievable 129-2 record on the Senior level. His only loss at either a World Championships or Olympic Games came in the 2014 World semifinals to three-time World champion Denis Tsargush of Russia, who is not entered in the Rio Games. Burroughs was injured in that 2014 World meet and wrestled back for the bronze. He is the leader of the American team, and could be the most popular athlete in the sport.
Burroughs was asked to compare coming into the Rio Games with his first Olympic experience in London four years ago.
“The approach has remained the same for me. This has always been a significant event, with the Olympic Games only every four years. There is a lot of notoriety worldwide and people understand that this is the most important tournament for wrestlers to bring home an Olympic gold medal. The significance remains the same, but the circumstances change. Since London, I have become a family man. I have won a few more titles. I have put myself in a position of prominence within our sport. So, I guess you could say I am a veteran, but I am excited to treat this treat this tournament as if it was my first time,” said Burroughs.
Dennis, an NCAA runner-up for the University of Iowa, took a number of years off from the sport, but came back in 2015 with a renewed focus and spirit. He was No. 2 in the USA at 61 kg in 2015, then dropped to 57 kg for the Olympic year and won the Olympic Trials.
“I think the break I had was really more of a mental break than anything, a physical break a little bit. Taking that time off really helped me be healthy again, and to get more motivated to make a run for an Olympic gold,” said Dennis.
Next up on Saturday, August 20 is two-time World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev (125 kg) and the exciting young J’den Cox (86 kg).
Dlagnev is competing in his second Olympic Games, after placing fifth in the 2012 Olympics. His World bronze medals were in 2009 and 2014, and he was fifth at the 2011 and 2013 Worlds. Dlagnev made the 2015 World Team but was unable to compete because of injury. He faces a familiar field when he steps out on the mat in Rio.
“Since London, I have wrestled all the guys. We all have wins and losses over each other. It has been kind of the same group of guys, with just a few new guys. When you keep wrestling these guys, it gets tougher trying to figure out something different to get over on them. You are wrestling the same people, so you try to do what you can to get better,” said Dlagnev.
Cox, a two-time NCAA champion for Missouri, made the move down to 86 kg in the Olympic Trials, and ran the table as the No. 9 seed, beating Kyle Dake in the finals series. He qualified the USA for the Games with a win at the World Olympic Qualifier in Mongolia. He was impressive in action at the Beat the Streets Dual, the World Cup and the German Grand Prix.
“I have improved by loads. It is a big testament to the guys on this team, giving me insight and knowledge, not only on wrestling but also on how things are carried out and how to carry yourself and how things are supposed to work out. It is also coming through coaching. Coach (Bruce) Burnett and Coach (Bill) Zadick have helped me out tons. I don’t pretend that I know everything about this style of wrestling, but I know how to wrestle and I know how to work hard and I know I’ll give everything I got. These things, combined with the great coaching and great leadership in front of me, I can do great things,” said Cox.
Closing out the Olympic Games on the final day of competition on Sunday, August 21 are 2015 World champion Kyle Snyder (97 kg) and Frank Molinaro (65 kg). Because the Closing Ceremonies are being hosted that evening, the session times have been moved up earlier, with the preliminaries starting at 8:30 a.m. and the second session, with repechage and medal matches starting up at 12:45 p.m.
Snyder became the youngest U.S. Senior World champion, when he won the gold medal at 19 years old in Las Vegas last September. He also boasts a 2013 Junior World title, won at age 17. Snyder came out of Olympic redshirt in January and won the NCAA heavyweight title for Ohio State in March.
“Wrestling in the Worlds last year, I was able to wrestle some of the same opponents that I will be competing against at this Olympic Games. It was great for me to wrestle them and get a feel for them. Winning the worlds gave me more confidence in my wrestling, a little bit of more strident in my step on the mat because of that accomplishment. This winter, this spring and even this summer, I have been able to wrestle some of the top competitors has allowed me to grow as a wrestler and feel good about my preparation when I compete on August 21st,” said Snyder.
Molinaro, a past NCAA champion for Penn State, has focused on freestyle this Olympic cycle, with his best previous finish being third at the World Team Trials in 2014. He was a No. 9 seed going into the Olympic Trials, where he battled through a strong field and beat Junior World silver medalist Aaron Pico in the finals. He has had some impressive wins during a busy spring and summer of international competition.
Frank and his wife celebrated the birth of a new son, Frank, who was born back in the USA after Frank had left for Rio. Molinaro talked about the importance of family support to his Olympic quest.
“I think the biggest thing is the sacrifice that my family has made. My wife quit her job and we moved back to Penn State when I decided to wrestle again. She gave up her career for my dreams and the sacrifices she is making now with two kids at home. My family has always put me in a position to win. I switched high schools when I was a sophomore and moved into a summer house so I could be in a better environment for wrestling. My parents have always sacrificed to put be in a better position for wrestling and my wife does it now, and I am very grateful to have that support system,” said Molinaro
In 2014, National Freestyle Coach Bruce Burnett came out of retirement in 2014 for his second stint as National Coach, previously leading the program from 1993-2000, including the 1996 Atlanta Games and the 2000 Sydney Games. He looks forward to helping this group of athletes as they pursue Olympic success.
“It is always exciting to represent your country. It is also always exciting to have the opportunity to coach elite athletes and help them reach their dreams. They spend a long time trying to get to where they are. I promise you as a coaching staff, we don’t want to mess that up. We try to match their intensity and their passion and work ethic, and try to help them to the best of their abilities. The coaching staff we have is very good. They are very experienced. I think I coached five of these guys’ individual coaches in the past. It has always been an adventure for me to come back, and I’ll say it has also been an adventure for my wife as well,” said Burnett.
The United States has been a dominant power in men’s freestyle wrestling, with 49 gold medals, 36 silver medals and 25 bronze medals. In the most recent Olympics in London in 2012, the USA had a pair of Olympic champions, Jordan Burroughs (74 kg) and Jake Varner (96 kg).
OLYMPIC WOMEN’S WRESTLING SCHEDULE
Friday, August 19 – Freestyle 57 kg, 74 kg (USA entries - Dennis, Burroughs)
10:00 a.m. - 57 kg and 74 kg Qualification and Elimination rounds
4:00 p.m. - 57 kg and 74 kg Repechage, Gold Medal and Bronze Medal Matches and Ceremonies
Saturday, August 20 – Freestyle 86 kg, 125 kg (USA entries - Cox, Dlagnev)
10:00 a.m. - 86 kg and 125 kg Qualification and Elimination rounds
4:00 p.m. - 86 kg and 125 kg Repechage, Gold Medal and Bronze Medal Matches and Ceremonies
Sunday, August 21 – Freestyle 65 kg, 97 kg (USA entries - Molinaro, Snyder) - different session times!!!
8:30 a.m. - 65 kg and 97 kg Qualification and Elimination rounds
12:45 p.m. - 65 kg and 97 kg Repechage, Gold Medal and Bronze Medal Matches and Ceremonies
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