ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Navy head wrestling coach Bruce Burnett led team US to its best finish ever at the World University Games, which wrapped up last week in Izmir, Turkey. Burnett coached the team to three gold-medal finishes with only six athletes competing. The trio of golds were the first titles at the World University Games since Bruce Baumgartner claimed gold in the 1981 tournament. Coming into the tournament, team US had claimed only two gold medals in the games since 1977.
“It was a great, great event, and an honor to lead this team, “said Burnett. “It was fun to work with our (USA) elite athletes in a World Class event. We had not won a gold medal at the World University Games since Olympic champion Bruce Baumgartner (1981) and we won three this year with only six athletes competing. It says something about the strength of USA wrestling.”
Former EIWA great Jesse Jantzen (Harvard), Nate Gallick (Iowa State) and Tommy Rowlands (Ohio State) all claimed golds in front of hostile crowds. Gallick and Rowlands both defeated hometown Turkish wrestlers in the finals, setting off a round of hostility among the fans.
“It’s always exciting competing against Turkey in Turkey, “said Burnett. “We faced them twice in the finals (Gallick and Rowlands). After Gallick defeated the Turk, we had to dodge a couple of thrown water bottles but the police were quick to act on it. All in all, it was a great experience for everyone that had the chance to be over there and I was extremely honored to be chosen as the coach.”
Burnett’s Mids are coming off a 12-3 record last season, its best record in 13 years. Navy sent six wrestlers to last year’s NCAA Tournament and will open the 2005-06 slate with the Blue-Gold Challenge Matches on Oct. 29, at Halsey Field House beginning at 1:00 p.m. The regular season gets underway on Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Eastern Michigan Open. The first home action will be the Navy Wrestling Classic on Nov. 19, at Halsey, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Wrestling Gear
