Eric Burgey Wins Third National Championship
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Eric Burgey – Photo From Notre Dame Athletics
Former Easton Area wrestler Eric Burgey captured his second straight NCAA Division II National Championship for Notre Dame College and third overall National Championship. This time around Burgey had a bullseye on his back the entire season as he dropped from 174 lbs. to 165 lbs.
Final 2014 NCAA Division II Brackets
At Easton Area High School Eric Burgey had a successful but short career for the District 11 wresting power. In the 2007 Season, his first season of varsity action as a sophomore, Burgey placed fifth at the District 11 Tournament competing at 140 lbs. He qualified for the North East Regional Tournament where he went (3-2) and ended the season with a (24-21) record. Moving up to 145 lbs. as a junior Eric Burgey greatly improved on his sophomore season. He was both a District 11 and North East Regional runner-up and qualified for the PIAA State Tournament. There the junior went (3-2) and finished in seventh place. Burgey fell to Central York senior James English in tiebreaker (3-2 TB) in the consolation round (fun fact: English will be competing in the 2014 NCAA Division I National Tournament for Penn State at 149 lbs.). In his senior season Burgey was ruled ineligible by the school board and would not put on an Easton singlet again (read more here). In two seasons Burgey amassed a (58-32) record.
Burgey spent his first two years at William Penn University located in Oskaloosa, Iowa. During his freshman campaign the former Red Rover went (33-4) and placed fifth at the NAIA National Championships competing at 149 lbs. In his sophomore season at William Penn Burgey again competed at 149 lbs. but this time he ended on top capturing the NAIA National Championship winning five straight bouts.
Burgey then made the move to wresting powerhouse Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio and not only made the jump to 174 lbs. but upgraded to the NCAA Division II level. Notre Dame went from a NAIA competitor to a NCAA Division II program in 2012. As a junior Burgey captured the NCAA Division II National Championship at 174 lbs. ending his first season with Notre Dame with a (25-7) record. Now, with two National Championships to his name, Burgey was no longer under the radar. In his second season at Notre Dame the senior dropped to 165 lbs. but remained on top entering the NCAA Division II National Tournament as the #1 seed. In the first round of the National Tournament Burgey faced Dimitri Willis from Maryville University who he lost to earlier in the season (5-2) on February 16, 2014. This time around Burgey was victorious (4-1) and advanced to the Championship quarterfinals. The senior won his next three bouts en route to the 165 lbs. Championship with three close decisions score (3-2), (3-2), and (4-2).
Fun fact #2: Burgey’s only other season defeat was to 3x PIAA State Champion Cody Wiercioch (Canon-McMillan) of Pittsburgh (6-4).
Read Express-Times reporter Ryan Holmes article on Eric Burgey here. [/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]