FREESTYLE OLYMPIC TEAM DID YOU KNOW?
Varner was a teammate of his coach and mentor, Olympic gold medalist and Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson, on the 2011 U.S. World Team. Varner won a bronze medal and Sanderson placed fifth in the 2011 Worlds.
He was a four-time NCAA finalist and two-time NCAA champion for Iowa State. He placed second as a freshman behind fellow Olympian Jake Herbert in the 2007 NCAA tournament.
He was one of three Nittany Lion Wrestling Club wrestlers on the 2011 U.S. World Team, along with Sanderson and Teyon Ware. Nittany Lion teammate Franklin Gomez won a silver medal for Puerto Rico at the 2011 Worlds.
He helped lead Iowa State to a second-place finish at the 2007 NCAA Championships.
He won an NCAA title as a senior in 2010 under Iowa State coach Kevin Jackson, a past Olympic gold medalist.
VIDEO PROFILE:MEET JAKE VARNER
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2012 USA Wrestling Media Guide - 39