The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Elyria coach gets Clarion HOF nod
Erik Burnett has added another line to his already illustrious resume, as Clarion University announced March 25 that Burnett is one of the seven members of its 2020 Hall of Fame class.
“It’s humbling,” Burnett said of being inducted. “I was there with teammates and coaches that believed in each other. That really helped mold me to becoming the coach and person that I am today.”
Burnett was a member of Clarion’s wrestling team from 1989 to 1992, when he posted a career record of 89-35-1. His best year with the Eagles came in his senior season, when he finished 25-4-2 at 118 pounds and won the PSAC title before placing third at the Eastern Wrestling League Tournament and fifth at the NCAA Tournament.
Burnett was a three-time NCAA Tournament qualifier throughout his college career. Prior to arriving at Clarion, he was a four-time state champion at Oberlin.
“My coaches really believed in me, and we really held each other accountable,” Burnett said of the success he had in his senior season. “I had some teammates who stood me up and told me I needed to be doing things a little bit better. We had a good team, and it was because everybody looked out for each other.”
Burnett is ranked third all-time in Clarion history in takedowns (219), 11th in career dual meet points (198) and 12th in dual meet victories with 47. After graduating from Clarion, Burnett was a volunteer assistant coach for the Eagles in 1993 and 1994 before joining the University of California (Pa.)’s wrestling coaching staff.
Upon moving to Elyria, he was a first an assistant at Amherst before becoming Elyria’s head coach.
“My coach at Clarion (Bob Bubb) is a legend,” Burnett said. “A lot of the stuff that he did with us, I still use with my kids today. I learned a lot about coaching and how to handle everybody differently. Without Clarion, I’m not where I’m at.”
In the 24 years he’s been with Elyria, Burnett has recorded more than 260 dual meet wins to go along with more than 75 state qualifiers. The Pioneers finished as the runner-up in the state dual meet in February and had nine wrestlers qualify for the state tournament before it was canceled due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.