Zain Retherford

Zain Allen Retherford (born May 21, 1995) is an American freestyle wrestler and graduated folkstyle wrestler who competes at 65 kilograms. In freestyle, Retherford is a three-time US World Team Member. He was a silver medalist at the 2022 World Wrestling Championships, earning his first World medal at the highest level of the World Championships. Additionally, he helped Team USA reach third-place at the 2019 World Cup, going undefeated at 4–0, and winning the individual 2019 World Cup title. Retherford was also the 2012 Cadet World Champion at 63kg as a freestyle wrestler.

One of the greatest Penn State Nittany Lion wrestlers of all time, Retherford placed fifth at the 2014 NCAA Division I National Championships as a true freshman, and afterwards redshirted the following year. Subsequently, Retherford went 93–0 through his next three seasons of competition, winning three NCAA National championships, three Big Ten Conference championships and multiple high-importance awards, such as the Dan Hodge Trophy (twice), Big Ten Wrestler of the Year (twice) and NCAA Most Dominant Wrestler (twice), between others.

Early life

Retherford was born in Washington, D.C., but moved to Benton, Pennsylvania, early in his life. He started high school at Line Mountain, where he won a state 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. According to the PIAA the move was entirely because of "athletic intent", however, Retherford claims there were other factors like bullying, health reasons and being closer to his father's business.

As a result of the move, Retherford was declared unable to compete that season (2011-12). Russ Hughes (his coach back then) 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 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.

College career

As the #3 recruit in the country, Retherford committed to the Nittany Lions, at Penn State University.

2013-14

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. 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.

2014-15

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.

2015-16

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'' and ''Big Ten Wrestler of the Year.''

2016-17

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 and was named the year's ''NCAA Most Dominant Wrestler'' for the second time in a row.

2017-18

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 128–4 record (all of his losses coming as a freshman).

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.

Freestyle career

As a cadet and a junior, Retherford already had prestigious freestyle accomplishments; Cadet World and National champion and three-time Junior National runner-up