Elyria standout nets Schultz Award

Mick Burnett needs to clear out some more room in his trophy case.

Nearly a month after finishing third in the public voting for Ohio’s best wrestler, the Elyria senior was named the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award winner for Ohio on May 14.

The award, given out by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, recognizes and celebrates the nation’s most outstanding high school senior male wrestlers for their excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship and community service.

“It’s super cool to win, especially since I consider Ohio one of the toughest wrestling states in the country,” Burnett said. “To beat out a really tough group of (other wrestlers) is really cool.”

Burnett is now in the running for a chance at the Midwest Regional Award. The Midwest region is comprised of Ohio, Illinois,

Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota, with the winner of the award becoming one of the five finalists for the National Award.

“I’m excited to see where it goes from here,” Burnett said. “If I win the regional award I do, if not it’s cool to have this award. It’s good to have at least this.”

“It’s super cool to win, especially since I consider Ohio one of the toughest wrestling states in the country.” Elyria senior Mick Burnett

Burnett leaves Elyria as one of the most decorated wrestlers in Pioneers history. The senior, who finished the season as the No. 9-ranked 138-pound wrestler in the country according to Flowrestling, ended the year with a record of 44-5, in addition to being a sectional and district champion. Additionally, Burnett finished the year ranked as the No. 7 wrestler in his weight class by Wrestling USA Magazine.

“It’s really cool to have this since we didn’t get our state tournament,” Burnett said. “Being able to make up for that is a little cool.”

Burnett will wrestle collegiately at Pittsburgh this fall. He’s one of four Elyria seniors to commit to wrestle in college.

“I’m excited,” Burnett said. “Whenever they decide to open campus back up again, I’ll probably get up to Pitt and start training as soon as possible.”

JENNIFER FORBUS — FOR THE MORNING JOURNAL Elyria’s Mick Burnett signals his district placement of first after defeating Zack Snyder of Anthony Wayne on March 7.