Northern State University Athletics

Burks went 4-1 on the weekend and took second place in the 157 pound weight class that featured eight nationally ranked wrestlers and seven returning All-Americans at the 42nd Midwest Classic in Indianapolis. He recorded pins in rounds one and two over Tyler Swiderski of Lake Erie (Fall 4:05) and John Dean of Belmont Abbey (Fall 0:20). In the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, he defeated two top-12 opponents. In the quarters he defeated #12 Dallas Boone of King (MD 15-6), and then defeated #10 Braydon Huber of UMary (Dec 8-5). He fell in the first place match to #1 James Wimer of Findlay (Dec 9-2). Burks was one of four NSIC wrestlers to reach the first place match in their respective weight classes and was the only one of those four to defeat two nationally ranked opponents on the mat.