Nebraska’s Jordan Burroughs won the U.S. Open despite not wrestling freestyle in three years. Larry Slater photo.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Free time is a precious commodity for Jordan Burroughs these days.

Fresh off winning titles at the NCAA Championships and U.S. Open, the Hodge Trophy winner from Nebraska arrived at the U.S. Olympic Training Center on Thursday night.

Burroughs will spend the next couple of days taking part in a National Team freestyle camp before heading back to Lincoln to take final exams as he completes his college degree.

The 22-year-old Burroughs will then fly to New York City to wrestle in the USA dual against Russia on Thursday in Times Square. Burroughs is scheduled to wrestle Russia’s Aniuar Geduev in the dual.

“I’m very excited about it,” Burroughs said. “The Russians are obviously the best team in the World, but we have the best guys in the U.S. wrestling. I’m coming prepared and I’m going out there to win. I’m excited to wrestle on that stage. I love wrestling in front of big crowds.”

Burroughs won the U.S. Open at 74 kg/163 lbs. just three weeks after finishing his college career with his second NCAA title. Prior to the U.S. Open, he hadn’t wrestled a freestyle match since the 2008 Junior World Championships.

“I’m very new to the game,” Burroughs said. “University Nationals my freshman year in college was the first time I ever wrestled freestyle. I obviously have a lot to learn.”

Burroughs will receive his first big test against an international opponent when he battles a tough Russian in the 24-year-old Geduev, who placed third in the 2010 World Cup and third in the 2010 Ivan Yarygin Memorial Grand Prix.

“I’ve watched a couple of his matches on YouTube,” Burroughs said. “I’ve never wrestled a Russian before and I know he’s a tough wrestler. Everyone is good on this level. There are no slouches. I’m really competitive and I’m going to give it my all. I’m excited to see what I can do.”

Burroughs said he’s made some adjustments in his approach to wrestling freestyle.

“Wrestling is still wrestling,” said Burroughs, who wrestles for the Sunkist Kids. “I like to get a lot of takedowns and take a lot of shots, but freestyle is more of a chess match. You have to be more strategic. I have to kind of pick my spots now. I only need to win two periods.”

The powerful, explosive Burroughs continued to be lethal on his feet at the U.S. Open. He did give up points when he was turned with a front headlock and when he was turned in par terre.

“Those are areas that I’ve been working on and areas I will work on when I’m out here in Colorado,” he said. “I have to be smarter about the way I wrestle at this level.”

Burroughs has clinched a spot in the finals of June’s U.S. World Team Trials in Oklahoma City. He will be in a tough class at 74 kilos. 2009 World Team member Trent Paulson and 2010 U.S. Open champion Andrew Howe are expected to be in his class after not wrestling in April’s U.S. Open.

“It’s definitely going to be tough at the Trials,” Burroughs said. “Regardless of how many tough guys are in the weight class, I only have to wrestle one of them. I’m working hard and trying to get better. I’m training hard and preparing to face the best guys in the U.S. and the best guys in the World.”

Burroughs likes the idea of sitting out until the finals of the World Team Trials.

“It’s definitely an advantage,” he said. “Those guys will beat each other up during the day. I will watch what those guys do in their matches and then be prepared once the finals come.”

Burroughs is excited about the opportunities to cash in at this level with the Living the Dream medal fund.

“Winning is what I strive for, but there is a lot of money to be made internationally in wrestling,” he said. “There are some really good incentives for winning at the World and Olympic level in our sport now. If I continue to work hard and have success, the money will take care of itself.”

Burroughs received the Hodge Trophy as the best college wrestler in the country recently at the Nebraska team banquet. Dan Hodge, who the trophy is named for, presented the trophy to Burroughs.

“It was awesome for Dan Hodge to be there,” Burroughs said. “I had a chance to talk to him. It was an amazing feeling to get that prestigious award given to me by a legend.”

Even with all he’s accomplished this year, Burroughs has bigger goals he is pursuing.

“I want to win World titles and Olympic gold medals,” he said. “I’m definitely excited about having the opportunity to do that.”