"They discarded, made me feel like an outcast"- Jordan Burroughs calls out Penn State after qualifying for his 10th World Championship Team

After failing to make the team for the Paris Olympics, Jordan Burroughs has now qualified for his 10th World Championships. After his win at the World Team Trials, the wrestler opened up about his negative experiences with Penn State University during the Olympic Trials, and what it meant for him to be back on the big stage.

Burroughs’ rivalry with Penn State University started back in March when he provided commentary for ESPN’s NCAA Wrestling Championships coverage. Back then, PSU’s Carter Starocci was a front-runner for the title but was competing with an injured knee. Burroughs' observed that Starocci's opponents should target that injured knee, and faced criticism for his comment from the latter and former PSU wrestler Bo Nickal.

Eventually, Jordan Burroughs' rivalry with Penn State University saw him booed out of the U.S Olympic Trials that were held on the university’s grounds. At the Trials, the former Olympic champion failed to make the team after losing to Nittany Lion Jason Nolf in the finals.

Now, speaking to media after qualifying for his 10th World Championships team, Burroughs called out PSU and their wrestlers, saying,

“You know, it's been a hard six months for me. It's been a really hard six months for me. I wasn't sure if I was going to continue to wrestle. Every day is, you know, trying to battle back from my experience at Penn State. Their fans, their coaches, their wrestlers, they discarded (me), made me feel like an outcast in a sport that I helped build. It's been hard, it's been hard. So this is very satisfying for me, it's very satisfying.”

Jordan Burroughs on what it means for him to qualify for the World Championships

At the World Team Trials, Jordan Burroughs took down Chance Marsteller 6-3 in the finals to qualify for his 10th World Team. After his win, the American explained that while this wasn't the team he intended on making at the beginning of the year, he was still happy with the experience.

“I've got a lot to fight for. A lot of people who count on me, rely upon me, not only to win, but to be at my best. Showing that you can persevere, you can be resilient in any circumstances. You know, this isn't the team I planned on making when I started this year. I wanted to be an Olympian in Paris, and I found myself on the fall. So a much different experience than I would have hoped for, but this is a testament to God's grace.”

Jordan Burroughs has previously competed at nine World Championships and has medaled in every single one of them. He is a six-time World Champion, the most by any wrestler in American history.