Zain Retherford

2023-24 Team USA Ranking: No. 1 at 70 kg/154 lbs. 

Years on Team USA: 7 (2016-18, 2019-24) 

Hometown: Benton, Pa. 

Residence: State College, Pa. 

Club: Titan Mercury WC 

Regional Training Center: Nittany Lion WC 

College: Penn State 

High School: Benton, Pa.

Born: May 21, 1995 

Height: 5-8 

Past Senior World Teams 

2022 Senior Worlds (Silver at 70 kg), 2019 Senior Worlds (DNP at 65 kg), 2017 Senior Worlds (DNP at 65 kg) 

Past Age-Group World Teams 

2012 Cadet Worlds (gold at 63 kg) 

Career Notes 

• 2022 World silver medalist
• Three-time Senior World Team member (2017, 2019, 2022)
• 2023 Pan American Championships champion

• Third at 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials 
• 2012 Cadet World champion
• Second in 2019 U.S. Open…
• Two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner as nation’s top college wrestler (2017 and 2018) 
• Three-time NCAA champion at Penn State (2016, 2017 and 2018) 
• Four-time NCAA All-American (2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018) 

2023: Final X champion… Pan American Championships champion…

2022: World silver medalist… Zouhaier Sghaier Tournament champion (Egypt)… Sixth in Pan American Championships… Final X champion… Dan Kolov champion (Bulgaria)

2021: Third at Senior World Team Trials…  

2020: Third at Pan American Olympic qualifier… Third at Matteo Pellicone International (Italy) 

2019: World Cup Team member…  Seventh at the Alans International Tournament (Russia)… Qualified for Senior Worlds after beating Yianni Diakomihalis in a Final X special wrestleoff… Senior World Team Trials champion… U.S. Open runner-up… Seventh at Yasar Dogu (Turkey)… Eighth at the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix (Russia) 

2017: DNP in Senior World Championships… Grand Prix of Spain champion.... Senior World Team Trials champion… Third in U.S. Open. 

2016: Third in 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials  

2015: Second at Junior World Team Trials… Second at Junior Nationals… Fourth at Dave Schultz Memorial International 

2014: Second at Junior World Team Trials… Second at Junior Nationals  

2013: Second at Junior World Team Trials… Second at Junior Nationals 

2012: Cadet World champion… Cadet Nationals champion 

2011: Fifth at Cadet Nationals 

College: Two-time Dan Hodge Trophy recipient, as nation’s top college wrestler (2017 and 2018)…Three-time NCAA champion for Penn State (2016, 2017 and 2018)… Fifth in 2014 NCAA Championships… Three-time Big Ten champion (2016, 2017 and 2018)… Graduated from Penn State in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in finance 

High School: Two-time Pennsylvania state champion… Coached by Russ and Scotty Hughes… Posted a perfect 47-0 mark at Benton High School, closing his high school career with a 130-3 career record 

Age-Group Achievements: 2012 Cadet World champion… 2012 Cadet Nationals Champion… Second at Junior World Team Trials and Junior Nationals in 2013, 2014 and 2015… Fifth at 2011 Cadet Nationals… 

Personal: Son of Allen and Sarah Retherford… Has two sisters, Hannah and Mylee… Married Julianna DeLuca on Dec. 11, 2021.. Started wrestling at the age of 6 

Hobbies: Reading, learning the guitar and anything outdoors 

Twitter: @zaintrainusa 

Instagram: @zaintrainusa 

Facebook: @zaintrainusa 

Individual website: zainretherford.com