SHARE

Video: Olympic Wrestler Jordan Burroughs Gives Clinic At Bergen Catholic

ORADELL, N.J.– Olympic wrestler Jordan Burroughs stood at one end of the red mat in Bergen Catholic's Hoehl Gymnasium on Thursday evening.

Gold medalist and four-time world champion Jordan Burroughs passed along his wrestling knowledge before answering questions and signing autographs

Photo Credit: Anthony Locicero
Burroughs told wrestlers that it's tough, but not impossible to become a world-class athlete

Burroughs told wrestlers that it's tough, but not impossible to become a world-class athlete

Photo Credit: Anthony Locicero
He followed a Q&A session with an autograph session, signing whatever items kids had.

He followed a Q&A session with an autograph session, signing whatever items kids had.

Photo Credit: Anthony Locicero
Wrestlers practiced their positioning

Wrestlers practiced their positioning

Photo Credit: Anthony Locicero
Jordan Burroughs goes one-on-one with Bergen Catholic's Joe Grello

Jordan Burroughs goes one-on-one with Bergen Catholic's Joe Grello

Photo Credit: Anthony Locicero

On the other side were approximately 100 young grapplers, shooting questions at him one by one. 

One boy wanted to know how Burroughs, 27, went from training in small town Sicklerville, N.J. to 2012 Olympic gold medalist.

Burrough's first introduction to wrestling came through World Wrestling Entertainment (then World Wrestling Federation).

"I wanted to put people through tables and jump off the ropes and do drop kicks," he said. 

When he signed up for his school's wrestling team, he said he was confused by the absence of a ring.

At one point, he was like many of the students. 

"I was a one-time [NJSIAA] state champion," Burroughs said. "I wasn't heavily recruited. Not a lot of people believed in my abilities."

Burroughs silenced his critics. He worked his way up to becoming one of the top wrestlers on the planet. 

A three-time All-American at Nebraska, he won two NCAA titles and finished his collegiate career with 128 victories. 

Burroughs has since captured four world championships at 74kg (163 pounds) and a gold medal in the same weight class at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. 

He'll represent the U.S. at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 

Burroughs left a lasting impression on Luke Mazzeo, an Emerson/Park Ridge freshman wrestler.

"I have to keep working on that double [leg takedown]," Mazzeo told Daily Voice. "The single leg sweep. That's my favorite move. He showed me an even better way to do it."

BC wrestling coach Dave Bell first met Burroughs in 2011 as an apprentice coach with the U.S. National Team. Burroughs, who captured the gold in Instabul, Turkey that year, had even wrestled inside BC's gym during his high school career. 

"He wanted to give back and do something for his fans," Bell told Daily Voice. "He wanted to meet the kids, he wanted to interact, take pictures. He wanted it to be up close and personal." 

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE

to follow Daily Voice Paramus and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE