The U.S. Olympic Committee has announced its Twitter voting is now open for the September Male & Female Athletes and Team of the Month. Vote for Jordan Burroughs Vote for Ali Bernard Vote for the Senior Men’s Freestyle World Team Representing USA Wrestling in men’s freestyle is Jordan Burroughs, who won the 74 kg/163 lbs. title at the World Wrestling Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, September 18. Representing USA Wrestling in women’s freestyle is Ali Bernard, who won a bronze medal at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. at the World Wrestling Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, September 16. Representing USA Wrestling for the team award is the U.S. Senior Freestyle World Team, which placed a strong third as a team in men’s freestyle at the World Wrestling Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, Sept. 16-18. Fans are encouraged to vote and re-tweet the poll links. SportsMan of the Month for September 2011 Sport: Freestyle wrestling Athlete: Jordan Burroughs Position: 74 kg/163 lbs. lbs. in freestyle wrestling Jordan Burroughs won a gold medal at 74 kg/163 lbs. in men’s freestyle wrestling at the 2011 World Wrestling Championships at the Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul, Turkey, September 18. Burroughs, 23, competing in his first Senior World Championships, became the first U.S. World champion in men’s freestyle since Bill Zadick in 2006. Burroughs won five matches on the way to the title. He claimed the gold medal by beating 2010 World silver medalist Sadegh Goudarzi of Iran 3-2, 4-1 in the championship finals. He outlasted Ashraf Aliyev of Azerbaijan 0-1, 5-4, 3-0 in a wild semifinal match. Burroughs defeated Ricardo Moreno of Venezuela, 2-1, 1-0 in the quarterfinals. Burroughs pulled out a dramatic win over two-time World champion Denis Tsargush of Russia 1-3, 1-0, 2-1 in the second round. Burroughs scored two third-period takedowns to pull out the clutch victory over Tsargush. He defeated Dmytro Rochniak of Ukraine, 3-1, 4-2 in the opening round. Burroughs, a native of Sicklerville, N.J., won his second NCAA title Nebraska in March. He won the Hodge Trophy as the college wrestler of the year and then jumped immediately into freestyle. He won back-to-back titles at the U.S. Open and the U.S. World Team Trials to earn a trip to Turkey. Burroughs becomes the first U.S. wrestler since Stephen Neal to win NCAA and World titles in the same year. Neal completed the double in 1999. SportsWoman of the Month for September 2011 Sport: Women’s Freestyle Wrestling Athlete: Ali Bernard Position: 72 kg/158.5 lbs. in women’s freestyle wrestling Ali Bernard won a bronze medal at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. in women’s freestyle wrestling at the 2011 World Wrestling Championships at the Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul, Turkey, September 16. Bernard pinned Guzel Manyurova of Kazakhstan in the bronze-medal match to cap a phenomenal day. She reversed Manyurova to her back and recorded the dramatic fall with 20 seconds left in the period. Manyurova is a past Olympic silver and World bronze medalist. Bernard won three tough matches to reach the semifinals. In the opening round, Bernard downed World fifth-place finisher Jenny Fransson of Sweden, 7-7, 2-1. Her second victory was over 2008 Olympic gold medalist Jiao Wang of China by pin in the third period. Her quarterfinal win was over 2010 World silver medalist Ohnewa Akuffo of Canada, an athlete she had not yet beaten. Bernard ran into four-time World champion and Olympic silver medalist Stanka Zlateva of Bulgaria in the semifinals. Zlateva earned a 3-1, 2-0 win to reach the finals and went on to win her fifth World title. Bernard’s placement qualified the USA to compete in her weight class at the 2012 Olympic Games. She also helped the United States to a tie for third place in the team standings in women’s freestyle. Bernard was fifth in the 2008 Olympics and competed in the 2009 World Championships. Team of the Month for September 2011 Sport: Men’s freestyle wrestling Team: 2011 U.S. Men’s Freestyle World Team The United States placed a strong third as a team in men’s freestyle at the 2011 World Wrestling Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, Sept. 16-18. Team USA placed third in the final team standings with 38 points. Russia won the team title with 43 points and Iran was second with 41 points. The U.S. made a quantum leap from last year where it finished 22nd with five points. The last time the USA won a team trophy in men’s freestyle was at the 2006 World Championships in Guangzhou, China, when Freestyle Team USA finished third. The team was led by World champion Jordan Burroughs at 74 kg/163 lbs. and World bronze medalist Jake Varner at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Placing fifth in their weight classes were Nick Simmons at 55 kg/121 lbs., Cael Sanderson at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Tervel Dlagnev at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. The U.S. qualified to compete in the 2012 Olympic Games in five of the seven weight classes, by placing in the top six in those divisions. Placing ninth and earning team points at 60 kg/132 lbs. was Reece Humphrey. Also competing was Teyon Ware at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. 2011 U.S. Men’s Freestyle World Team 55 kg/121 lbs. – Nick Simmons, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids) – 5th 60 kg/132 lbs. – Reece Humphrey, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC) – 9th 66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Teyon Ware, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) - dnp 74 kg/163 lbs. – Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids) – 1st 84 kg/185 lbs. – Cael Sanderson, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) – 5th 96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) – 3rd 120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids) – 5th National Freestyle Coach – Zeke Jones, Colorado Springs, Colo. World Team Coach – John Smith, Stillwater, Okla. World Team Coach – Lou Rosselli, Columbus, Ohio World Team Coach – Casey Cunningham, State College, Pa. Team Leader – Mike Novogratz, New York, N.Y.