ITHACA, N.Y. -- As he walked off the mat in the first match of a best-of-three series against Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs, it's hard to imagine what might have been going through Kyle Dake's mind.

After losing for the first time since his sophomore year in college, Dake had just suffered a tech fall loss at 7-0 in less than two minutes. He'd need to step back on the mat in an hour with the same man who had just dominated him.

One thing about Kyle Dake - he keeps getting better.

The story didn't end with Dake upsetting the undefeated Burroughs at the 2013 World Team Trials. But for those watchers of the sport, the second match was totally different.

Using a three-point throw to stun the champion early, Dake and Burroughs went into overtime tied 6-6 before the Olympic champion and Dake's roadblock to an eventual Olympic berth scored two to capture the win and earn the lone spot for the World Championships. It was widely regarded as one of the best matches of the entire tournament.

Dake sent a tweet out after the match that was as simple as it was powerful. "I'll get better."

Just to get to face Burroughs, Dake had to win his way through the Challenege Tournament earlier Friday, knocking off in succession former World Team member Trent Paulson, NCAA champion David Taylor and freestye specialist Andrew Howe in the final.

He wrestled three matches, including nearly six minutes of overtime against Howe, before even getting to Burroughs. The three wrestlers he had defeated had combined to win six NCAA titles, made seven finals appearances and earned eight All-America finishes.

It felt as though it was just the first round, and Dake has been focued back on freestyle wrestling for just a few months after four years of competing in collegiate folkstyle.