Muhlenberg wrestler Jake Gordon, a rising sophomore competing in the 174-pound weight class, recently returned from the Division III European Wrestling Exchange trip. The USA team that Gordon participated on is organized annually by Bulgarian and American coaches to give DIII wrestlers the opportunity to compete internationally. This year the team was stacked with top DIII talent, including four 2015 All-Americans and several regional placewinners.
 
Here is Gordon's account of his experience: 
 
The trip began in Chicago, where the team met for a two-day training camp and reviewed freestyle technique. Freestyle is one of two international and Olympic wrestling styles, different than the collegiate folk style.  
 
After the team became acclimated, the 16 wrestlers and two coaches got on a plane and headed to Paris, France. Technically, the 12-hour stay in Paris was a layover, but the group nonetheless toured the city extensively.
 
At the end of that day, the team left for Istanbul, Turkey. While in Istanbul, we toured the historic city in the morning and either competed or trained with the Turkish Junior National Team in the afternoon. 
 
After a four-day stay in Turkey, the trip continued to beautiful Varna, Bulgaria, where both competition and training intensified. Each morning at 7 a.m., the team participated in a beach workout, then around 3 walked to the training center to wrestle. 
 
We were privileged to have two extremely unique wrestling experiences while in Varna. First, the team competed with the Senior Bulgarian National Team, including several world and Olympic medalists. I wrestled a 2012 Olympic Bronze Medalist. 
 
In addition, the wrestlers got to compete in traditional Bulgarian grass wrestling in a small village in the deep Bulgarian countryside. This style of wrestling is similar to freestyle, but it is wrestled on the grass and the first five minutes are "pin only."
 
After Bulgaria, we left for Bucharest, Romania, where we had one day of training and touring before heading back home. 
 
It was the experience of a lifetime that highlighted the power wrestling has as a tool to unite athletes and cultures around the world. On every level, from the sightseeing to the competition, the trip surpassed any expectation.