And it’s a curtain call. The ongoing Non-Olympic World Wrestling Team Trial is turning out to be quite the spectacle for the fans. However, it looks like the tournament will be the final time that Michigan’s wrestling coaching staff Alex Dieringer will be performing as a competitor. His exit comes courtesy of an emphatic victory by Jordan Burroughs.

The 31-year-old star, with three individual NCAA gold medals to his name, was a clear favorite for a spot on the national team in the 79kg division. However, 36-year-old Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs had other plans. Competing for the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club, Burroughs defeated Dieringer 7-4 in the semifinals, leading Dieringer to the realization that he had reached the end of his professional wrestling career. The official USA Wrestling X handle posted an update on September 14 captioned, “Alex Dieringer leaves his shoes on the mat as a sign of his retirement.”

Considering how Alex enjoys a sort of celebrity status within the NCAA circuit, his retirement will be a hard pill to swallow for many fans. The emotions were captured by another post on X. Bashmania’s host Justin Basch wrote, “Dieringer had one hell of a career, he’ll be missed on the mat!” as a nod toward Dieringer’s illustrious career as a collegiate wrestling star. However, succumbing in the hands of someone like Jordan Burroughs would probably cut the star some slack.

Despite his many accolades, Burroughs was the supposed “underdog” in the weight class, with names like Chance Marsteller posing an intimidating shadow over the others. But the Cornhusker has trounced through every challenge thrown at him so far in the same city which has brought him two NCAA gold medals. However, the list of the things to note from the match doesn’t end just here.

If Dieringer managed to stomp over the Olympian in Nebraska, then it could have been possible to see two OSU associates as national teammates in October. The Non-Olympic Wrestling World Championships, set to take place in Tirana, Albania later this year, might have featured ex-Cowboys student Dieringer alongside OSU’s current wrestling head coach, David Taylor, in the same camp.

Jordan Burroughs could be on the plane with an old friend soon

After his disappointing Olympic campaign, Penn State alum and 2020 Olympic gold medalist David Taylor stepped in to lead the Oklahoma State Cowboys’ wrestling program for the upcoming NCAA season. Despite boasting 34 national team titles, Oklahoma State has struggled to maintain dominance in collegiate wrestling in recent years. With Taylor at the helm, the Cowboys hope to turn their fortunes around by leveraging the “Magic Man’s” expertise. While Taylor’s new designation seems to have ticked off quite a few nerves over at his alma mater, and NLWC stars haven’t taken the move well. And it seemed like Taylor had something to prove.

The OSU coach entered the upcoming World Wrestling Team Trials in the 92kg weight bracket. For justifiable reasons, fans were once again buckling up to see Taylor making an impact on his opponents in Omaha, Nebraska. With vehement support from his new squad, Taylor so far has been able to thwart every attempt at making his decision to break retirement look like a rash one. Along with Burroughs, Taylor is also proving that experience matters when it comes to performing on the mat. But will they be able to represent the Stars and Stripes on an international stage together for the first time ever? What do you reckon about their chances to bunk together in Albania? Tell us with a comment down below!