News Flash

Memory of tough loss motivates wrestler
Thanks to Granbyman for pointing out this article!

Jordan Burroughs just missed winning a state title.

Three seconds from gold. Three seconds from having something else in
common with his best friend, Vince Jones.

That's how close Jordan Burroughs came to joining the former Winslow
Township wrestler as the only Eagles to win a state championship last
season.

Burroughs and Southern Regional's Frank Molinaro were locked in a 1-1
tie through regulation and the first one-minute overtime period in the
125-pound final at the NJSIAA state individual tournament.

In the 30-second tiebreaker, the Winslow wrestler appeared to have the
state title clinched until Molinaro scored a one-point escape with three
seconds remaining.

"During the summertime, I would just think about that match,"
Burroughs said of the 2-1 double-overtime setback. "My heart would
start racing, [thinking about] if I would have done this or changed this
maneuver, then I would have won."

The 17-year-old also uses the memory as motivation.

After growing two inches and gaining about 20 pounds, the 5-foot-8
senior will wrestle at 140 this season.

"Regardless of anything else, he wants to be a state champ,"
Winslow coach Rick Koss said.

Even if Burroughs doesn't join Jones as a state champion, the former
next-door neighbors may still end up in select company.

Jones is a freshman wrestler at the University of Nebraska, and the
Cornhuskers are among the numerous Division I-A programs courting
Burroughs.

While the senior would love to reunite with his best friend, he's
pursuing all options. But selecting a college isn't the No. 1
priority. Burroughs' main focus is capturing the state crown he was
three seconds away from winning.