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Potential all-American wrestler transfers to Iowa State
By Dick Kelly
Date Posted: 2008-08-29
Iowa State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson has a pretty good nucleus from which to build his 2008-09 team. The Cyclones return six All-Americans from the 2008 NCAA Championships and have welcomed a potential All-American in Duke Burk to the team.
“He brings a ton of experience,†Sanderson said. “He’s been to the national tournament two times; he’s a competitor; he’s a hard-working kid and wants to be as good as he can possibly be. I think he’ll do that in our environment.â€
Burk, a two-time NCAA qualifier at Northern Illinois, has transferred to ISU and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining. He will compete for the starting spot at 174 pounds, the weight class for which he qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2007 and ’08.
“He was released from (Northern Illinois); he’s academically eligible, so they used the one-time transfer rule,†Sanderson said of Burk’s eligibility. “He’s good to go.â€
Neither Sanderson nor Burk would discuss Burk’s decision to leave Northern Illinois.
“I could get into the education program (at ISU) after going through a process,†said Burk, who plans to major in history education. “My grades are good enough, I just have to go through a couple of things and apply.â€
Burk said once he decided to leave Northern Illinois, ISU was among those schools he considered.
“I can here first for education, but obviously, Iowa State’s Iowa State, so I figured if I could get into the education program, the wrestling team is just an added bonus,†Burke said.
Burk said one of the reasons he chose ISU was because the school is located less than four hours from his home in Peoria, Ill. He said he also considered several other schools within a short distance of his home.
“Obviously, (ISU) can win a national title, so hopefully it’s one of those things that it just works together,†Burk said. “(174) is my best weight class.â€
Burk placed third at the Illinois state wrestling tournament as a senior at Peoria Notre Dame High School. He was 10-0 at 184 as a redshirt freshman at NIU and compiled a career mark of 52-16, including a 28-7 record last season.
Burk qualified for the 2007 NCAA Tournament at 184 and lost to ISU’s Jake Varner in the second round. He also dropped his first consolation match and was eliminated from the tournament.
In 2008, Burk qualified at 174 and made it to the quarterfinals where Central Michigan’s Brandon Sinnott beat him in overtime with riding time determining the outcome. Burk then won his first consolation match before losing to Matthew Stolpinski of Navy, 4-3, costing Burk All-American honors.
Kist transfers to Wartburg. Sanderson said sophomore Mark Kist, ISU’s starter at 125 through the early portion of the 2007-08 season, has transferred to Wartburg College in Waverly. Kist started the first eight duals for the Cyclones, but lost his position to Tyler Clark following the Midlands Tournament.
Kiley to Nebraska. Sanderson said Ridge Kiley, of Eagle Grove, has decided to attend the University of Nebraska this fall. Kiley, the 2008 Class 2A state champion at 112, originally planned to walk on at ISU.
LineupISU’s starting lineup for 2008-09 could look something like this: 125 — Tyler Clark; 133 — Nick Fanthorpe; 141 —Nick Gallick; 149 — Mitch Mueller; 157 — Cyler Sanderson; 165 — Jon Reader; 174 — Duke Burk; 184 —Jerome Ward or Joe Curran; 197 — Jake Varner; 275 — David Zabriskie.
Dick Kelly can be reached at (515) 232-2161, Ext. 355, or dkelly@amestrib.com.
By Dick Kelly
Date Posted: 2008-08-29
Iowa State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson has a pretty good nucleus from which to build his 2008-09 team. The Cyclones return six All-Americans from the 2008 NCAA Championships and have welcomed a potential All-American in Duke Burk to the team.
“He brings a ton of experience,†Sanderson said. “He’s been to the national tournament two times; he’s a competitor; he’s a hard-working kid and wants to be as good as he can possibly be. I think he’ll do that in our environment.â€
Burk, a two-time NCAA qualifier at Northern Illinois, has transferred to ISU and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining. He will compete for the starting spot at 174 pounds, the weight class for which he qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2007 and ’08.
“He was released from (Northern Illinois); he’s academically eligible, so they used the one-time transfer rule,†Sanderson said of Burk’s eligibility. “He’s good to go.â€
Neither Sanderson nor Burk would discuss Burk’s decision to leave Northern Illinois.
“I could get into the education program (at ISU) after going through a process,†said Burk, who plans to major in history education. “My grades are good enough, I just have to go through a couple of things and apply.â€
Burk said once he decided to leave Northern Illinois, ISU was among those schools he considered.
“I can here first for education, but obviously, Iowa State’s Iowa State, so I figured if I could get into the education program, the wrestling team is just an added bonus,†Burke said.
Burk said one of the reasons he chose ISU was because the school is located less than four hours from his home in Peoria, Ill. He said he also considered several other schools within a short distance of his home.
“Obviously, (ISU) can win a national title, so hopefully it’s one of those things that it just works together,†Burk said. “(174) is my best weight class.â€
Burk placed third at the Illinois state wrestling tournament as a senior at Peoria Notre Dame High School. He was 10-0 at 184 as a redshirt freshman at NIU and compiled a career mark of 52-16, including a 28-7 record last season.
Burk qualified for the 2007 NCAA Tournament at 184 and lost to ISU’s Jake Varner in the second round. He also dropped his first consolation match and was eliminated from the tournament.
In 2008, Burk qualified at 174 and made it to the quarterfinals where Central Michigan’s Brandon Sinnott beat him in overtime with riding time determining the outcome. Burk then won his first consolation match before losing to Matthew Stolpinski of Navy, 4-3, costing Burk All-American honors.
Kist transfers to Wartburg. Sanderson said sophomore Mark Kist, ISU’s starter at 125 through the early portion of the 2007-08 season, has transferred to Wartburg College in Waverly. Kist started the first eight duals for the Cyclones, but lost his position to Tyler Clark following the Midlands Tournament.
Kiley to Nebraska. Sanderson said Ridge Kiley, of Eagle Grove, has decided to attend the University of Nebraska this fall. Kiley, the 2008 Class 2A state champion at 112, originally planned to walk on at ISU.
LineupISU’s starting lineup for 2008-09 could look something like this: 125 — Tyler Clark; 133 — Nick Fanthorpe; 141 —Nick Gallick; 149 — Mitch Mueller; 157 — Cyler Sanderson; 165 — Jon Reader; 174 — Duke Burk; 184 —Jerome Ward or Joe Curran; 197 — Jake Varner; 275 — David Zabriskie.
Dick Kelly can be reached at (515) 232-2161, Ext. 355, or dkelly@amestrib.com.
| Comments |
| jxma Agree gbcyah77. Duke's decision to leave NIU, while controversial, was the best thing for him personally for the long term. Certainly sour grapes coming from the first poster. Duke is a great addition to ISU. Could see 4 Illinoisans starting for ISU this year. 10/3/08 gbcyah77 easy whatever!!!sound like sour grapes.Duke would be a great addition to any program in the country.you however have just inserted your foot in your mouth with room to spare. 9/21/08 Whatever! Good riddance to Duke Burk. He caused nothing but bad publicity for NIU. Best of luck. 9/19/08 |
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