LINCOLN, Neb. – Three of the eight Championship Series at the 2017 U.S. Freestyle World Team Trials went the full three matches, making for some amazing drama on the raised center mat in the Bob Devaney Center on Saturday night.
They saved the best match for last, as 2012 Olympic champion and three-time World champion Jordan Burroughs (Lincoln, Neb./Sunkist Kids/Nebraska WTC) battled in the third match of his 74 kg/163 lbs. against rival Kyle Dake (Ithaca, N.Y./Titan Mercury WC/Finger Lakes WC) in front of a hometown crowd of Nebraska Cornhusker fans.
The first match went to Dake, 6-3, Burroughs’ first loss on U.S. soil in Senior-level freestyle going back to 2011. But Burroughs battled back to win the second match, 8-4. It all came down to bout three.
Right off the bat, Burroughs scored a takedown followed by a gut wrench turn to take a 4-0 lead. There was pandemonium in the arena. In the second period, Dake tried to push the action but Burroughs was up to the task. On a scramble on the edge, Burroughs got another point on a step out. When a Dake challenge was denied, the lead was 6-0. Dake forced two late step outs but it was not enough, and Burroughs had one of the most joyous celebrations in his career. Continue reading at www.teamusa.org