Zain Retherford, 2019 World Team Member

Zain Retherford Interview (BASCHAMANIA Podcast)

2020-01-17

3x NCAA Champion and 2x World Team Member Zain Retherford was recently on the BASCHAMANIA Podcast. The show recap is as follows:

The Zain Train has been rolling for years and isn't slowing down any time soon. The 3X NCAA Champion, 2012 Cadet World Champion, 2x and Current Senior World Team Member just got back from the 2019 World Championships and it was time to get caught up! From growing up on the farm and developing farm strength, traveling to Pittsburgh as a youth wrestler, his dominant Penn State career as a 3X NCAA Champ and the upcoming Toyko Olympics, we cover a lot of ground in a short period of time. Put those airpods in and come aboard the Zain Train! Listen to the interview here.

Daily Collegian: ‘If the World Championships were today, I’d be ready’: Why Zain Retherford is feeling confident as ever

2019-09-05

Cornell’s Yianni Diakomihalis is picked up by Zain Retherford at the 65 kg wrestle-off at Wilkes University on Monday, September 2, 2019. Retherford defeated Diakomihalis 2-1. Photo by James Leavy/Daily Collegian

Zain Retherford was like a lot of kids in that from an early age he knew what he wanted to do when he got older.

But that's where the comparisons between Retherford and most normal kids stop.

A lot of people might say they want to be a firefighter or a dancer or an astronaut or a racecar driver, but very few likely aspire from the age of just six years old to win a gold medal in a niche sport like wrestling.

'More than anything I could visualize': How former Penn State wrestler Zain Retherford retained his World Team spot in front of a special crowd

2019-09-03

Zain Retherford is announced the winner of the 65 kg wrestle-off at Wilkes University on Monday, September 2, 2019. Retherford defeated Yianni Diakomihalis 2-1. Photo by James Leavy/Daily Collegian

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Normally, Zain Retherford wouldn't be fazed by a crowd of 10,000 plus people, let alone a crowd of around 2,000.

And yet, the former four-time All-American and three-time NCAA champion for Penn State, who's wrestled in a wrestling cathedral like Rec Hall, couldn't help but get emotional after a nearly four-month long saga that ended with him retaining his spot on the United States World Team at Wilkes University on Monday.

ONWARD STATE: Penn State Wrestling’s Zain Retherford Qualifies For World Team

2019-06-09

Former Penn State wrestler Zain Retherford qualified for his second World team by sweeping Cornell’s Yianni Diakomihalis at Final X: Rutgers Saturday, although his win is under dispute at the moment and could be reversed. Wrestling for the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, Retherford avenged a loss to Diakomihalis in the US Open finals by winning bouts 10-4 and 6-6 on criteria.

DAILY COLLEGIAN: Penn State's Zain Retherford wins 2nd straight Hodge Trophy as nation's best college wrestler

2018-03-04

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- At this point in his career, Zain Retherford doesn't need any more accolades or championships to cement his place among Penn State wrestling greats. He's won the Dan Hodge Trophy, two straight national titles and now his third straight Big Ten title, along with winning his program record 89th straight match.

CENTRE DAILY: Zain Retherford finishes Penn State wrestling career with 3rd title

2018-03-26

Zain Retherford kicked things off for Penn State’s stretch of five finalists against Lock Haven’s Ronnie Perry . Few doubted Retherford wouldn’t repeat, it was a matter of would he score bonus points for the team race.

PENN LIVE: Penn State's Zain Retherford wins 2nd straight Hodge Trophy as nation's best college wrestler

2018-03-27

Dan Hodge didn't wrestle for Penn State, but it does seem that a growing number of Penn State wrestlers are competing in the same dominant fashion that he did. Zain Retherford, a three-time 149-pound NCAA champion from Benton with a ton of wrestling awards and records, won his second straight Dan Hodge Trophy on Tuesday.

ESPN: Penn State's Zain Retherford honored again as top wrestler

2018-03-27

NEWTON, Iowa -- Penn State's Zain Retherford has won the Hodge Trophy, given to the nation's top college wrestler, for the second straight year.