Winslow rallies for Olympic gold medalist

By Kristen Holmes, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Posted: August 26, 2012

Scores of proud residents lined the streets of Winslow Township Saturday to welcome home a sports hero who scored a gold medal in the Olympics.

Wrestler Jordan Burroughs, winner in the 74 kilogram freestyle event, was the honored with a parade, a proclamation and the admiration of the crowd who came out to catch a glimpse of the gold medalist and 2011 world champion.

"I'm super-blessed to be in this position. . . ," said Burroughs in a speech after the parade. " I encourage every young person out here to dream big, shoot for your goals and be able to put the work ethic and time in."

The 2006 Winslow Township High School graduate defeated Iran's Sadegh Goudarzi to win the gold medal on Aug. 10, capping an undefeated streak in Senior-level freestyle competition that goes back to 2009.

Burroughs returned to his Sickerville home as part of a hectic post-Olympic schedule that has included appearances on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the Today Show and throwing out the first pitch Friday at the Phillies home game against the Washington Nationals.

On Saturday, the Winslow Township High School marching band, wrestling team, and, as Mayor Barry Wright put it, "anyone who wanted to honor this young man" participated in a procession that began at the Christian Care Unit Missionary Baptist Church and ended at the Winslow Township Elementary School #3, Burroughs' alma mater.

"What better way than to start the school year than to have a parade of a gold medalist who grew up and went to school right here," said H. Major Poteat, superintendent of the Winslow Township School District. "We have a young man who is a tremendous role model."

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