With Jordan Burroughs Pulling Out of Zagreb Open, Jason Nolf Stepped Up for Team USA With a Birthday Special Performance

The Nittany Lions Wrestling commands absolute respect among fans of the sport across the country, and rightfully so! The Penn State wrestling wing has produced some of the most internationally decorated athletes and 2024’s first major tournament once again highlighted its dominant status in the nation. With Jordan Burroughs deciding to stay away from the Zagreb Open, it was another NLWC member, Jason Nolf, who stepped up to the arduous challenge.

Nolf, the Penn State student, and the two-time US Open gold winner has started off his journey to Paris in style with a major win in Croatia. Only weeks ago, the NLWC stunned Americans with 12 of its wrestlers qualifying for the Olympic team trials. And now, it looks like it wasn’t a freak incident, as one of their flagbearers once again bolstered the club’s reputation on the international stage.

Jason Nolf wraps up his responsibility in the 74kg category

Jordan Burroughs has been training hard to get back to his Olympic weight class. His determination to bring back his A-game has even prompted the 6-times world champ to step away from the year’s first event to focus on his own goals. With him out, the US battalion for the Zagreb Open scurried to find its replacement for the 74kg weight class and they didn’t have to look too hard! Jason Nolf has bagged the gold in the weight class and what a day to do so! In a recent post on X, the official FloWrestling account shared Nolf’s latest success. “Jason Nolf wins“, reads the post with a gold medal emoji.

Nolf took down Iran’s Hossein Abouzari on his birthday to win his first Grand Prix gold at the Zagreb Open. While the US contingent headed to Croatia with a long list of stars, their hopes for the 74kg category seemed ill-lit. However, the birthday boy had other plans in mind.

With a resounding 10-1 win over his opponent in the finals, Jason Nolf again highlighted his claim to be in the national team as the 2024 Paris Olympics creep closer.

Jordan Burroughs continues to find balance

With Nolf’s win, the battle for the 74kg spot in the national team gets tougher. The 2012 Olympics gold winner Burroughs is eyeing his former weight class after having made a name in the 79kg category. As Burroughs falls back on cherished moments from the last year, he is also eyeing the national team trials to reclaim his place among the nation’s elites. However, it seems, the competition is getting tougher for him.

Read more: Amidst Shocking Withdrawal From Zagreb Open, Jordan Burroughs Takes a Moment to Share Heartwarming 2023 Recap

Jason Nolf has been the NCAA Division I winner thrice and also has a couple of Big Ten gold medals to his name. With that in mind, Burroughs might be looking at staunch challenges as the road to Paris opens up.

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