Zain Retherford
 Retherford in 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Zain Allen Retherford | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | May 21, 1995 Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home town | Benton, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 65 kg (143 lb) 70 kg (154 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Wrestling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Freestyle and Folkstyle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Penn State | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Nittany Lion Wrestling Club Titan Mercury Wrestling Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Cael Sanderson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Zain Allen Retherford (born May 21, 1995) is an American freestyle wrestler and graduated folkstyle wrestler who competes at 70 kilograms.[1] In freestyle, he is a gold and silver medalist at the World Championships, as well as a Pan-American champion.[2]
One of the most successful Penn State Nittany Lion wrestlers of all time, Retherford was a two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner and a three-time NCAA Division I National champion.[3][4][5]
Early life and education
[edit]Retherford was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Early in life, he moved to Benton, Pennsylvania. He attended Line Mountain Jr./Sr. High School, where he won a state wrestling title as a freshman and took third place as a sophomore. He went on to compile a record of 84–3 before moving to Benton High School in his junior year. As a result of the move, Retherford was declared unable to compete the 2011-12 season. Russ Hughes, his high school coach, states that it was in this time when Retherford started to really focus and grow as a wrestler. As a senior, he compiled an unbeaten record of 47–0 and collected his second Pennsylvania state title. After the season, he became a Cadet World Champion in freestyle at 65-kilograms.
Retherford graduated from high school with a 131–3 record and two PIAA state titles.[6][7]
College career
[edit]Retherford was considered the #3 recruit in the country in 2012. He committed to the Nittany Lions at Penn State University.[8][9]
2013-14
[edit]Retherford had incredible success as a true freshman, going 27–0 in regular season. He made his way to the Big Ten Conference finals to face defending NCAA champion (eventual four-timer) Logan Stieber, whom he lost to by 4 points, making him the runner-up of the tournament.[10] At the NCAA championships, Retherford defeated an unseeded opponent in the first round and also the eleventh and fourteenth seeds before losing to the second-seeded Logan Stieber once again. After losing in the semifinals, he faced and lost to top-seeded Mitchell Port in the consolation semis, ending his run at the tournament and placing fifth, which earned him All-American status.[11]
2014-15
[edit]In this season, Retherford chose to redshirt to focus on training and freestyle, placing second at the Junior World Team Trials and fourth at the 2015 Dave Schultz Memorial International.[12][13]
2015-16
[edit]As a sophomore, Retherford moved up to 149-pounds and closed the regular season undefeated with a 26–0 record before the Big Ten's. At the tournament, he defeated the eight and fifth seeds to make his way to the finale. where he downed second-seeded Brandon Sorensen to win the championship. At the NCAA's, he dominated with a technical fall (21-6) to start the tournament, accumulated 3 pins in a row and a major in the finals to close the tournament and claim his first NCAA title. He was named the year's NCAA Most Dominant Wrestler, Penn State Male Athlete of the Year, Big Ten Wrestler of the Year,[14] and received the 2016 Wade Schalles Award for best collegiate pinner.[15]
2016-17
[edit]In his junior year, he continued to establish dominance, staying in the top-spot of the division through the regular season. At the Big Ten Championships he downed four opponents with three falls and a technical fall (16-1) to become a two-time Big Ten Champion. At the NCAA Championships, he went 5–0 with four technical falls and a pin at the tournament to claim his second-straight NCAA Championship, making him the seventh Nittany Lion to do so. Due to his efforts, he was named the NCAA and Big Ten Championships Outstanding Wrestler. He ended the season with a 28–0 mark with seventeen pins, seven techs and a major, near to a 90 percent of bonus points in matches.
He then earned the Dan Hodge Trophy award as the most dominant wrestler in NCAA Division I along with that year's NCAA Most Dominant Wrestler and Wade Schalles Award winner[16] for the second time in a row.[14]
2017-18
[edit]As a senior, he remained unbeaten at 149-pounds with a 31–0 record. At the Big Ten's, he defeated three ranked wrestlers with two majors and one decision by points to claim his third-straight B1G Championship. At the NCAA Championships, he opened up with a tech (16-1) and a pin before another tech (20-2) in the quarterfinals. In his next two matches he won by decision (10-4 and 6-2), claiming his third-straight NCAA title.
After the season, he became only the fourth person to be awarded the prestigious Dan Hodge Trophy twice. He was also named NCAA Most Dominant Wrestler for the third straight time and Big Ten Wrestler of the Year for the second time. In his four seasons at PSU, he graduated with a 128–3 record (all of his losses coming as a freshman).[17]
Overall, Retherford is a two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner, three-time NCAA Champion, four-time All-American, three-time Big Ten Champion and four-time Big Ten finalist.[18]
Freestyle career
[edit]As a cadet and a junior, Retherford already had prestigious freestyle accomplishments; Cadet World and National champion and three-time Junior National runner-up.[18]
2015
[edit]At the Dave Schultz Memorial, Retherford lost to Jordan Oliver in the quarterfinals (2-6). In the repechage matches, he made his way to the third place match by beating Evan Henderson (10-7), Borislav Novachkov (injury default) and Murad Nukhadiev (9-2). In the bronze-medal match, he faced Andrey Kviatkovski, whom he lost to (4-8), placing fourth in his first competition as a senior.[19]
2016
[edit]At the US Olympic Team Trials, Retherford defeated James Green (9-2) in the preliminary match and advanced to the quarterfinals, where he faced Logan Stieber, whom he lost to (6-8). In the repechage matches, he downed Jason Chamberlain (7-2), Jayson Ness (6-3) and Jimmy Kennedy (2-2) to place third in the tournament.[20]
2017
[edit]At the US Open, Retherford placed third after losing to Jordan Oliver in the semifinals, qualifying for the World Team Trials Tournament. He won the Challenge Tournament and went on to face Frank Molinaro at the wrestle-offs. He won the 2-out-of-3 matches, losing the first one (6-7) and dominantly winning the other two (6-0, 7-4).[21][22]
Retherford competed at the Spain Grand Prix before the World Championships. He dominated his opponents, not getting scored a single point and winning all of his matches (4-0, TF 11–0, 6–0, TF 10-0).[23]
At the World Championships, Retherford teched (10-0) David Habat in the opening match but subsequently lost to Adam Batirov (4-6), getting eliminated and placing eleventh.[24]
2019
[edit]At the Ivan Yarygin Golden Grand Prix, he lost in the opening bout to Gadzhimurad Rashidov (3-4) and got eliminated, placing eighth.[25]
At the US Open, he downed 5 opponents before losing to Yianni Diakomihalis in the finals, this qualified him for the World Team Trials.[26] At the Challenge Tournament, he defeated Dean Heil, Frank Molinaro and Jordan Oliver twice before competing at Final X: Rutgers against Yianni Diakomihalis.[27] In the first match, Retherford beat Diakomihalis 10–4. The second match ended with a lot on controversy; Retherford was down 4-6 when he got a takedown for two points, Diakomihalis ended up earning two more to apparently win the match 8–6, however, there were problems with the scoring and that led to the match being scored 6–6 with an advantage on criteria to Retherford, winning the match and the Final X series.[27][28]
He once again faced Yianni Diakomihalis in the qualification round of the Grand Prix Yaşar Doğu. He lost the match by points (9-5).[29] He was then scheduled to compete at the Pan American Games, however, he was forced to pull out a week before the event and was replaced by Jaydin Eierman.[30]
Due to the past controversy at Final X: Rutgers, Retherford faced Diakomihalis for the fifth time in their freestyle career in a wrestle-off called Final X: Yianni vs. Zain to determine who was going to represent the United States at the World Championships.[31] He defeated Diakomihalis by two points to one.[27]
Retherford competed at the World Championships weeks after his wrestle-off. He lost a close bout in the first round against Alejandro Valdés (9-10) and was eliminated, placing twenty-sixth.[32]
Retherford competed at the Alan International in Russia. He downed Inar Kettia and Iulian Gergenov (TF 13–2, TF 11-0) prior to losing to Saiyn Kazyryk (4-6), placing seventh.[33]
In his last tournament of 2019, he competed at the prestigious World Cup, where he ended up undefeated at 65 kilograms with four victories, claiming the individual World Cup championship and helping Team USA win the team bronze-medal.[34]
2020
[edit]In his first competition of the year, Retherford competed at the Matteo Pellicone RS. He faced Bajrang Punia, whom he lost a close decision (4-5) in the opening round. He went on to place third as he beat Joey McKenna (10-5) and pinned Vasyl Shuptar in the repechage matches.[35]
In an attempt to make his way to the Olympics, Retherford competed at the Pan American Olympic Qualification Tournament. He started strong, winning by technical superiority (10-0) in both of his first two bouts. In the semifinals, he faced Agustín Destribats. Retherford took him down early, however, Destribats was able to adjust and worked his way to the victory by fall, being the first wrestler to get the win in that fashion against Retherford in freestyle competition. In the third-place match, he faced Álbaro Rudesindo, whom he pinned.[36]
Retherford was scheduled to compete at the 2020 US Olympic Team Trials on April 4 at State College, Pennsylvania.[37] However, the event was postponed for 2021 along with the Summer Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving all the qualifiers unable to compete.[38]
After six months without being able to compete, Retherford returned to the mats against three–time NCAA Division I All-American Alec Pantaleo on September 19 at the NLWC I,[39] whom he outscored 3 points to 2.[40] He then won by technical fall against three–time US National Champion and World Team Member Reece Humphrey on November 24, at the NLWC III.[41] Retherford avenged his loss to Bajrang Punia at the Matteo Pellicone, when he flawlessly defeated him 6–0 at the NLWC IV of December 22.[42]
2021
[edit]To start off the year, Retherford defeated Evan Henderson in February at the NLWC V.[43] Retherford competed at the rescheduled 2020 US Olympic Team Trials from April 2 to 3 as the top–seed in an attempt of representing the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[44] He knocked off two–time Pan American Continental champion and 2019 NCAA champion Anthony Ashnault in the first round, but was unexpectedly upset by 2018 US Open champion Joey McKenna by decision.[45] He lost his consolation match against 2021 NCAA champion from Penn State Nick Lee, failing to place.[46]
Retherford bulked up to 70 kilograms for a comeback at the 2021 US World Team Trials on September 11–12, intending to represent the country at the World Championships.[47] After losing in the first round in the hands of Jordan Oliver, Retherford made his way to a third-place finish.[48] He is also a Senior Freestyle World Silver Medalist (70 kg; 2022). [49][50] 2023 He won the gold medal in the 70 kg weight class at the 2023 World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade. He defeated Iranian wrestler Amir Mohammad Yazdani 8:5 in the final bout.[51]
Freestyle record
[edit]
NCAA record
[edit]Stats
[edit]Awards and honors
[edit]- 2020
Pan American Wrestling Olympic Qualification (65 kg)- Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series (65 kg)
- 2019
World Cup (65 kg)- US World Team Trials (65 kg)
U.S Open Championship (65 kg)
- 2018
- NCAA Division I (149 lbs)
- Big Ten Conference (149 lbs)
- Dan Hodge Trophy winner
- NCAA Most Dominant wrestler
- Big Ten Wrestler of the Year
- 2017
- US World Team Trials (65 kg)
- U.S Open Championship (65 kg)
- Spain Grand Prix
- NCAA Division I (149 lbs)
- Big Ten Conference (149 lbs)
- Dan Hodge Trophy winner
- NCAA Division I Championships Outstanding Wrestler
- NCAA Most Dominant wrestler
- Big Ten Championships Outstanding Wrestler
- 2016
- US Olympic Team Trials Challenge Tournament (65 kg)
- NCAA Division I (149 lbs)
- Big Ten Conference (149 lbs)
- NCAA Most Dominant wrestler
- Penn State Male Athlete of the Year
- Big Ten Wrestler of the Year
- 2014
- NCAA Division I All-American (141 lbs)
- Big Ten Conference (141 lbs)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "2019 World Team Member 65kg". ZainRetherford.com. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ "American trio grab golds at World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade". www.insidethegames.biz. September 17, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
- ^ "16 of college sports' most unbreakable records". NCAA.com. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ Jenkins, Ben (March 17, 2018). "Penn State wrestling's Zain Retherford finishes career with third-straight title at 149 pounds". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ Carlson, Jim (March 27, 2018). "Penn State's Zain Retherford wins 2nd straight Hodge Trophy as nation's best college wrestler". PennLive. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ "Zain Retherford: Class of 2013". Pennsylvania Wrestling. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ Aferiat, Jake (February 18, 2018). "How Penn State wrestling's Zain Retherford ascended to legendary status". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ "Wrestling: PSU signs three". BlueWhiteIllustrated. December 4, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ "Cadet World champ Retherford commits to Penn State". InterMat. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ "Results". Trackwrestling.com. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ "2014 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ "Cael Sanderson's decision five years ago helped set up Penn State's dominant wrestling run". York Dispatch. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ "Zain Retherford". Team USA. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ a b "Zain Retherford - Wrestling". Penn State University Athletics. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ "Schalles Award Winners". Retrieved April 28, 2023.
- ^ "Schalles Award Winners". Retrieved April 28, 2023.
- ^ "Zain Retherford (Penn State) Profile". Wrestlestat.com. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ a b "About Zain". ZainRetherford.com. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ "Results". Trackwrestling.com. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- ^ "Results". Trackwrestling.com. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- ^ "FLO ARENA". arena.flowrestling.org. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ "2017 Junior and Senior World Team Trials". FloWrestling.org. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ "2017 Spain Grand Prix" (PDF). United World Wrestling. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ jeandaniel. "World Championships". United World Wrestling. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ jeandaniel. "Grand Prix Ivan Yariguin". United World Wrestling. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ "FLO ARENA". arena.flowrestling.org. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Zain Retherford Beats Yianni Diakomihalis in Wrestleoff, Makes 2019 World Team". Roar Lions Roar. September 3, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ Smith, Earl (August 15, 2019). "Arbitrator Rules in Yianni/Zain Controversy". The Open Mat. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ Gallo, Ed (July 16, 2019). "Wrestling breakdown: Yianni Diakomihalis vs. the World". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ "Jaydin Eierman replacing Zain Retherford at 65 kg at Pan American Games". Team USA. August 5, 2019. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021.
- ^ "Diakomihalis vs. Retherford 65 kg wrestle-off set for Sept. 2 in Pennsylvania". Team USA. August 21, 2019. Archived from the original on November 12, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ jeandaniel. "World Championships". United World Wrestling. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ "Green, Macchiavello and Snyder advance to Alans International semifinals". Team USA. December 7, 2019. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ Eric. "Russia Rolls Over Iran, Wins Freestyle World Cup Title". United World Wrestling. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
- ^ "Matteo Pelicone Final Recap". Team USA. January 18, 2020. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- ^ "Men´s Freestyle Pan-Am OQ". Team USA. March 15, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.[dead link]
- ^ Goodwin, Cody. "Wrestling: Iowa's Spencer Lee wins Senior Nationals, qualifies for 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials". Hawk Central. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- ^ Goodwin, Cody. "USA Wrestling announces that 2020 Olympic Trials are postponed". Des Moines Register. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
- ^ "NLWC Set to Host Freestyle Event Live On Rokfin September 19". Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
- ^ Aferiat, Jake (September 19, 2020). "Nittany Lion Wrestling Club dominates at freestyle event taking nine of 13 bouts". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
- ^ Carlson, Jim (November 25, 2020). "Taylor, Retherford, Lee brothers and Starocci among winners at Nittany Lion Wrestling Club event". PennLive. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
- ^ Carlson, Jim (December 23, 2020). "Zain Retherford defeats world's No. 2-ranked wrestler; Penn State wrestlers dominate NLWC Live Event 4". PennLive. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ^ "BEA's Grace Stem wins, former Penn State wrestlers go 3-3 in Nittany Lion Wrestling Club event". Centredaily.com. February 23, 2021.
- ^ "Penn State Wrestling and the NLWC Ready for 2021 Olympic Team Trials Friday and Saturday". Penn State University Athletics. April 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
- ^ Evans, Bill (April 3, 2021). "N.J. native Joey McKenna upsets Zain Retherford, reaches U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials finals". NJ.com. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
- ^ Engelhardt, Gordon. "Mater Dei grad Lee third in U.S. Olympic wrestling trials, earns spot on national team". Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
- ^ "Who's Registered For World Team Trials So Far?". FloWrestling.org. August 10, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ "Nittany Lion Wrestling Club Grabs Three Third-Place and One Fourth-Place Finish at 2021 World Team Trials in Nebraska". Penn State University Athletics. September 12, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ^ "World Championships".
- ^ Shefferd, Neil (September 16, 2022). "Olympic champions help US claim double freestyle gold at World Wrestling Championships". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
- ^ "World Championships 2023 wrestling results".
External links
[edit]
- Zain Allen Retherford at United World Wrestling
- Zain Allen Retherford at the International Wrestling Database (alternate link)
- Zain Allen Retherford at Olympics.com
- Zain Allen Retherford at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics
- Zain Retherford at USA Wrestling
- Zain Retherford at Team USA (archive December 29, 2021)
- Official website
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- 1995 births
- Living people
- American male sport wrestlers
- Penn State Nittany Lions wrestlers
- World Wrestling Championships medalists
- 21st-century American sportsmen
- Sportspeople from Columbia County, Pennsylvania
- Sportspeople from Kenosha, Wisconsin
- Wrestlers at the 2024 Summer Olympics
- Olympic wrestlers for the United States