By Gary Abbot, USA Wrestling

2012 Olympic champion and three-time World champion Jordan Burroughs of the United States regretfully had to pull out of the 2016 World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling, as he and his wife Lauren are awaiting the birth of their second child.

The World Cup, the annual international dual meet championship featuring the top eight wrestling teams in the world, is set for The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., June 11-12.

"Unfortunately, I am not able to compete in the World Cup. I have continued my training for the event and was ready to wrestle. Realistically, it is difficult to be prepared this way, but I did what was necessary to compete at my best. I anticipated coming to Los Angeles until the last minute," he said.

Jordan said Lauren's due date was on June 13, but the couple expected that the child would be born ahead of schedule. Their first child Beacon was born two weeks early, and their doctor indicated after the 37th week of her pregnancy that the baby could be born at any time. Because the birth had not occurred before Burroughs would have needed to travel to Los Angeles, he was not able to attend.

"I wanted to be there for the birth and to make sure Lauren was home and doing well before I went to wrestle. I can't consciously, as a father and a husband, leave my wife before the birth or when she is still in the hospital. I want to be there for her. It was an extremely tough decision for me. It was a family priority decision," said Burroughs.

Burroughs, who is also a member the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team, has won gold medals in the World Cup at his weight class four straight years, going unbeaten in this important competition.

"I know my team needs me. I have been a staple on the USA World Cup team, and have won gold medals the last four years. My teammates know I have always been there for them and will continue to do so. We have a very strong team and they will do well. We have been either second or third as a team the two years that the World Cup has been in Los Angeles. I really wanted to win it as a team, and wanted to win it in LA," said Burroughs.

Already on the U.S. roster at 74 kg/163 lbs. is three-time NCAA champion Alex Dieringer of Oklahoma State, who placed third in the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. In addition, Team USA has added to the roster 2014 Cadet World champion and two-time Junior World Team member Mark Hall II, who has been in the World Team Training Camp and is ready to compete if needed.

Burroughs will compete with the U.S. Olympic Team members at the upcoming Grand Prix of Germany in Dortmund, Germany, July 2-3, as a tune-up event for the Olympic Games. His weight class is scheduled to compete in Rio de Janiero, Brazil at the Olympic Games on August 19.

"There is one important tournament that I am preparing for this summer. If I win the Olympic gold medal again for our country, people will forget about the challenge that I missed wrestling in the World Cup at the Forum this year," said Burroughs.

USA Wrestling fully supported Jordan Burroughs' decision to prepare for the World Cup in his normal training location in Lincoln, Neb., and completely understands and appreciates his decision to remain with his wife and his family to be there for the birth.

"This is another example of what a tremendous human being and role model that Jordan Burroughs is. He wanted to be part of Team USA and put in his full effort to train and prepare for the World Cup, even though he and his wife were so close to the birth of their child. He is a great leader, a great teammate and also understands the importance of family. We are proud of Jordan and look forward to him getting back on the mat in Germany in a few weeks," said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender.

Additional changes were made to the U.S. World Cup lineup prior to this weekend’s competition. 2016 Olympian Tervel Dlagnev and NCAA champion Nahshon Garrett will not be competing in Los Angeles. Also added to the U.S. roster were Joey Lazor at 61 kg, Jayson Ness at 70 kg, and Richard Perry at 97 kg.

2016 MEN’S FREESTYLE WORLD CUP
At The Forum, Inglewood, Calif., June 11-12

You can watch all matches LIVE on FloWrestling

Updated U.S. Roster
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Daniel Dennis, Iowa City, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC/Hawkeye WC)
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Alan Waters, Columbia, Mo. (Missouri Wrestling Foundation)
61 kg/134 lbs. – Tony Ramos, Chapel Hill, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC)
61 kg/134 lbs. – Joey Lazor, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Titan Mercury WC)
65 kg/145.5 lbs. – Frank Molinaro, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
65 kg/145.5 lbs. – Zain Retherford, Benton, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
70 kg/154 lbs. – James Green, Lincoln, Neb. (Titan Mercury WC/Nebraska WTC)
70 kg 154 lbs. – Jayson Ness, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Alex Dieringer, Port Washington, Wis. (Cowboy WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Mark Hall, Apple Valley, Minn. (OTC)
86 kg/189 lbs. – J’Den Cox, Columbia, Mo. (Missouri Wrestling Foundation)
86 kg/189 lbs. – David Taylor, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
97 kg/213 lbs. – Kyle Snyder, Woodbine, Md. (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC)
97 kg/213 lbs. – Jake Varner, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
97 kg/213 lbs. – Richard Perry, Philadelphia, Pa. (New York AC/Pennsylvania RTC)
125 kg/275 lbs. – Zach Rey, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley WC)
Team Leader – Andy Barth, San Marino, Calif.
National Freestyle Coach – Bruce Burnett, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Assistant National Freestyle Coach – Bill Zadick, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Assistant National Freestyle Coach – Brandon Slay, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Event Schedule (All times Pacific)
Saturday, June 11
3 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies
3:30 p.m. – Mongolia vs. Turkey, United States vs. India
4:45 p.m. – Russia vs. Georgia, Iran vs. Azerbaijan
6 p.m. – Turkey vs. Georgia, Azerbaijan vs. United States
7:15 p.m. – Russia vs. Mongolia, India vs. Iran

Sunday, June 12
10:30 a.m. – Georgia vs. Mongolia, Azerbaijan vs. India
12 p.m. – Turkey vs. Russia, United States vs. Iran
1:30 p.m. – 7th place match, 5th place match
4:45 p.m. – 3rd place match
6 p.m. – 1st place match
7:15 p.m. – Awards Presentation