Jan. 31, 2007
DeKalb, Ill. - Senior wrestler Danny Burk recently sat down with NIU Media Relations to discuss his experiences as a wrestler at NIU.
Q: What do you enjoy most about being an NIU Wrestler?
A: Just being a part of the team and working with the younger wrestlers to help make them better. Also, I believe just getting the chance to compete on a high level for a good team is enjoyable.
Q: What goes through your mind before a match against a tough opponent? Do you have any pre-match rituals?
A: I usually do the same thing every time. I talk to my parents before the match to keep me calm. I'll get a good sweat going about five matches before mine, say a prayer, and focus on competing to the best of my ability. From there, I just go out and do my thing.
Q: Who has been your biggest inspiration so far in your career?
A: I would have to say my parents, my sister, and my brother for one. Other than my family I would have to say Lance Armstrong because he is such an inspirational athlete for us all.
Q: What is it like having your younger brother experience Huskie wrestling along with you?
A: It's a lot of fun. Everything I have done in my life, I have always let him tag along. Its nice having him here with me. Having my brother [Duke], makes it more comfortable for me on road trips because he is my roommate. Overall, having him there beside me just makes me a little more comfortable because we know we always got each other. However, it can be kind of nerve racking from time to time.
Q: What has been your biggest accomplishment as an NIU wrestler?
A: I have two big accomplishments. One would be when I went from being red-shirted my freshman year, to breaking into the starting lineup the year after. That was a huge step for me and my career. This year, at the Omaha, Nebraska Tournament, I pinned a kid that was ranked fourth in the country in my weight class at 174.
Q: Looking into the future, what are some goals that you hope to attain before the season's end?
A: Our team goal would be to beat Central Michigan at our match up with them next week at the Convocation Center. Also, I would say another goal is winning the MAC Championship this season. Individually, I want to win the MAC tournament and attain All-American honors and make it to the National tournament, and have my brother make it to Nationals along with me.
Q: If you could compete in another sport at NIU besides wrestling, what would it be?
A: I would have to say soccer because I loved playing soccer as a kid and I stopped playing it to concentrate on other sports, so I kind of miss playing soccer like I used to.
By Luke Anderson, Media Relations Student Assistant
