NU Wrestling Blog: Catching Up with Jordan Burroughs

Posted by: Scott Pulverenti
Date: July 18, 2011 at 3:18 p.m.

Welcome to the Nebraska Wrestling Blog!

The blog will serve as another avenue to catch up on everything about the Nebraska wrestling program. I'll try and post interesting news, notes and tidbits surrounding the Nebraska wrestling program as we head into the 2011-12 season.

I will post anything and everything that you might find interesting about Nebraska wrestling or collegiate wrestling in general that might not be long enough for a formal press release. You will be able to find team notes, college wrestling news, Q&A sections with our student-athletes and coaches, video features on events surrounding the program and much more. The goal is to have a new post up every week, with that number increasing as we inch closer to the season this winter.

The first blog post is a Q&A session with the most successful wrestler in school history Jordan Burroughs. The two-time national champion was nice enough to take a couple minutes and answer some questions while he is training in Ukraine. Burroughs became a member of the U.S. World Team in June by capturing the 74 kg/163 pound title at the World Team Trials in Oklahoma City, and is working to improve before the Senior World Championships in Turkey this September.

If you have any questions, comments or ideas, email me at spulverenti@huskers.com.

Make sure to bookmark this page and check back again soon. Go Big Red!

Former Husker Jordan Burroughs...
On what his experience has been like so far as a member of the U.S. World Team...
"It's pretty awesome. We get to do a lot of traveling and see the world. I will be in almost ten different countries in the next year. I get to wrestle beside the best wrestlers in the country like Cael Sanderson, who I watched win four national titles when I was a kid, and now we're teammates. They also gave us free iPad 2's for making the team."

On his time so far in Ukraine...
"It's different. It's really tough to communicate with the people here if you don't speak the language. I like it though. We're able to see how different cultures live in comparison to us. You never really realize how lucky you are to be an American."

On what he has to improve on most before the World Championships in September...
"I have to improve on my par terre turning on top. I get a lot of takedowns, but it's hard for me to turn on top. If I learn to score a turn right after a takedown, I will be unstoppable." 

On what the biggest difference is in his eyes between international and collegiate wrestling...
"The biggest difference is the scoring system and some of the rule changes. Wrestling is wrestling though, in any style. I just have to find ways to adapt and win like I have grown to do in college."

On his senior season at Nebraska...
"My senior year was amazing. I dominated all of my opponents and hopefully left a lasting impression on wrestling fans. I was glad to have my senior year back and lead our team by example on the mat and become the first Husker to win two national titles. I'm definitely going miss college wrestling and all the Husker fans."

On what he gained while at Nebraska aside from all of his athletic achievements...
"I built a family at Nebraska. I love the relationships I have established and the fan base I have built here. Everyone in Lincoln is extremely supportive of me and confident in my chances at winning an Olympic gold medal in the future."

On what it was like to train and be coached by Bryan Snyder...
"Bryan Snyder was a blessing. He had perfect timing coming back to Nebraska. He kept me motivated all season and gave me someone competitive to wrestle on a daily basis. It was awesome to train with the best wrestler in Nebraska history (before me, haha!). He helped me improve mentally and approach every match and opponent the same and overcome any obstacle no matter what."

On what he would tell an incoming freshman beginning his college wrestling career....
"I would just tell them that if you put in your best effort everyday amazing things will happen. Not only should you dream big, but accompany those dreams with the effort and hard work that it takes to be the best. You have the rest of your life to party, but you only have four years to be a national champ."