Junior Christian Burd has been wrestling since he was four years old, and since stepping onto the high school team as a freshman, he’s been a leader. Now in his second year as captain, Burd continues to set the bar for his teammates with his work ethic and skill.

Last season, he was the only wrestler on the team to make it to states, finishing in the top 8 overall. “Getting to States last year was a big deal for me,” Burd said. “It showed me where I stand and what I need to do to get better. This year, I want a place in the conference.”

Burd’s impressive record backs up his goals. He went 29-8 as a freshman and improved to 32-4 last year. But success doesn’t just happen—it’s been years of hard work, including his offseason wrestling practices with the Nauman Club.

With the first home match approaching, Burd believes the team is ready. “I think it’ll be a close win. Everybody just needs to do their part, and we’ll pull it off,” Burd said.

As a two-year captain, Burd is focused on helping the team succeed, not just himself. “We’ve got a solid group this year. If we keep working hard, we should win most of our dual meets.”

His motivation is clear: placing at states and pushing himself and his team to improve. With Burd leading the way, the team is in good hands for another strong season.