The U.S. Olympic Freestyle Wrestling Team Thanks America from Coach Zeke Jones

The U.S. Olympic Freestyle Wrestling Team Thanks America

Celebration Multi City Tour

Dear USA Wrestling Board of Directors, United States Olympic Committee, Wrestling Leaders, Coaches and Wrestlers,

If there is anyone who still doubts that American wrestling is a place where winning gold medals is still possible, who still wonders whether we’ll ever have another wrestler like John Smith again, or who still questions the power of American Wrestling.  London provided that answer.

This was done on the strength of American hard work, resolve, and ingenuity.  It was built through our kids, parents, and our coaches in our local clubs, it was built on the passion of dream of children who developed in to young champions.  And as that dream grew, it became reality.  And ultimately it culminated in dreams coming true when Coleman, Jordan, and Jake won Olympic Medals for themselves, their families, and America. 

I receive a gracious email from the Russian Olympic Wrestling coach, Christakis Alexandridis, who congratulated his on our “brilliant fight and iron character” at the Olympic Games.  He told me that he was happy for us as he personally watch our wrestlers improve their skills over the last four years and to see the U.S. arrive as a world power again after years of struggle.  He wants to see the USA vs Russia rivalry thrive.  We know Russia fought the good fight and ultimately is still the team that we must pass to become the best in the world. They are the world power and that is why we are still hungry. We will not stop fighting until we arrive on top.

I want to thank my partners on this journey.  They were in the trenches, who led from the front, who put the countless hours in and made the long trip away from their families.  Coaches Brandon Slay, Bill Zadick, Bobby Douglas, John Smith, Mark Manning, Cael Sanderson, Lou Rosselli, Sean Bormet and Jamill Kelly lead us to London.  There were many other coaches too that put in long hours watching film, rolling around with the wrestlers at 6 am or midnight, sat in the sauna, went to the store to get water, and to just spent time hanging out when there was nothing to do.  The support staff also made sure we were fed, evaluated, doctored, massaged, taped, cracked, and snapped….thanks Jenn, Cyrus, Fred, and Dr. Hines for your care of our men.  You too Junior Olympic Team Manager Zach Dinan.  There were others too. Jim Ravannack, Rich Bender, Mitch Hull, Chris Moen, Gary Abbott, Craig Sesker, and our freestyle team coordinator and administrative hammer Candice Kasischke.  They ensured the path was cleared for us upon arriving in Minsk and London.   I also want to thank the board for  their unwavering support and leadership through the rebuilding of the American program over the last four years and the United States Olympic Committee including Ron Brant, Rachel Isaacs, Steve Powderly, and Rob Schwartz for their expertise and wisdom in assisting our team with expert knowledge and wisdom in winning medals over the cycle.  Thanks to everyone at USA Wrestling that keeps our day working and functioning at a high level.   A special thanks to the folks that created and stewarded the Living The Dream Fund, Rich Tavoso, Stan Dziezdic, The Martori’s, Dave Barry, and the man I’m about to talk about next.  He’s the man who ultimately made everything possible… our Team Leader Mike Novogratz.  He assembled one of the greatest wrestling campaigns to gold in American history of wrestling.  I am forever grateful for what you sacrificed to strive to be their best, dream big, and stand on the podium.  To everyone, on behalf of our US Olympic Freestyle Wrestling Team, we thank you, the American wrestling people,  for the support you gave us on our journey to the Olympic Games.

As we close this chapter, we open a new one heading towards Budapest in 2013 with our long term vision towards Rio de Janeiro for the next Olympics.  Since London in eight short weeks, we’ve broken down the video of the Olympic Games and developed the U.S. Olympic Team Areas of Concentration for the next year, returned from a two week training camp and multiple tournaments in Russia, and successfully raised vital funds for the freestyle program’s future.  We have a big announcement coming shortly which will impact our sport and our team.  I don’t want to give away the secret just yet but you will find it to by something that will help move the needle in a big way for all American wrestlers.  Lastly, we’re preparing for our first National Team Training Camp in two weeks since the Games and getting ready to host our “Freestyle Leadership Summit” that brings the nations wrestling leaders together to lay out our four year strategic plan.  It’s been a busy but productive couple of months.

But before we get too far into the next quad and as a token of our appreciation,  we will host a three city stop proudly named, “The Olympic Wrestling Team Thanks America!” celebration tour.  The Olympic Freestyle Team will visit New York City, Orlando, and Los Angeles to thank the many people who have been instrumental in our team’s success by hosting a public rally in the day and a private reception in the evening.  This announcement will be made on themat.com shortly.  We feel it’s important to celebrate our performance in London with the children, families, parents, and volunteers in those communities because we know our success couldn’t have happened without the support of all American wrestling folks.  In addition, we’ll celebrate the thousands of gracious donors who gave to the Living The Dream Medal fund and made it possible for Jake and Jordan to cash in on their gold medal by winning $250,000.   We look forward to celebrating in these wrestling communities so if you live in these areas please come out and see us.

Finally, let’s look back one last time before we move forward forever by taking a glimpse at the milestones of our program over the last four years.  It’s not only to celebrate but to acknowledge the hard work and accomplishments of many people who impacted our team and men.   After all, the successes of our team is a direct result of the people who made it possible.   Thank you again America.

All the Best,

Coach Zeke Jones

Head Coach, National Freestyle Wrestling Coach

Milestones of the 2009-2012 Quadrennium in Men’s Freestyle Wrestling

1. USA won two gold medals in the Olympic Games for the first time in American history since moving to seven weight classes. This represented the 29% of the available gold medals at the Olympic Games in freestyle wrestling and led all nations in the gold medal count. It’s also the first time the US won two gold’s outside the American continent since the 1992 team. 

2. It’s the first time USA out-gold medaled Russia (or the former Soviet Union) since 1960. 

3. The US freestyle team had its first back to back World and Olympic Champion with Jordan Burroughs since Kurt Angle was 1995 World champion and 1996 Olympic champion.

4. Launched the first Living the Dream Medal fund , the largest medal funded incentive program among all NGB’s.  The Living The Dream Medal Fund paid out over $750,000 in the last four years for all three styles. Of this, men’s freestyle athletes received $525,000 in 2012, and $630,000 over the quad.

5. Revitalized the Regional Training Center Model - Over $3 million new dollars have been injected into the national freestyle program and wrestling through the regional training centers fundraising efforts. This is the most money driven into the freestyle program in a four year span ever.

6. The freestyle program raised over $1.4 from 2008-2012 through private sources. Nearly all of this funding went to athlete training, domestic and international competition, and direct financial support.  Again, the most in a four year span ever.

7. Launched the first USOC/USA Wrestling Weight Control Guidelines, which provides the framework for safe controlled weight management.

8. In 2010, launched the RTC Cup Championship Award. This award recognizes the nation’s top RTC.  The Ohio RTC won the first two RTC Cup Titles.  The USOTC was 2^nd in 2011 and the Michigan RTC was 2^nd in 2012.

8. The creation of the National Development Team at the USOTC. This program will aim to identify the nation’s best cadets and juniors and move them into a concentrated educational and athletic environment at the USOTC aimed at winning medals for America in 2016 and 2020.

9. In 2008, hosted the nation’s first National Freestyle Leadership Summit, which brought all of USA Wrestling’s leaders together to lay out the four-year strategic plan through 2012.

10. Since 2008, the National Freestyle Team has hosted the National Coaches Summit, a meeting held annually to bring the nation’s best freestyle coaches together.

11. The national freestyle staff won the USOC National Coach of the Year award in 2009 and 2011.

12. Built a comprehensive video library with over 15 domestic and international competitions each year and has nearly every competitor in the World Championships and Olympic Games for the last four year period. This represents over 900 recorded hours of freestyle footage.

13. Laid out the first Regional Training Center Regulations that have brought a structured environment in cooperation with the NCAA and the NWCA. 

14. Had two Cadet World Champions and a Junior World Champion in the cycle.

15. Boasts the best wrestler in the world, pound for pound, Jordan Burroughs, returning World and Olympic Champion who has yet to lose an international match as a Senior and has not lost since 2009.