The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Elyria’s Erik Burnett is Ohio Coach of the Year
Elyria Coach Erik Burnett was chosen Ohio Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.
Another day, another coaching accolade for Elyria’s Erik Burnett.
Nearly three months after being inducted in Clarion University’s Hall of Fame, the fabled Elyria wrestling coach earned another award, as he was named Ohio Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.
“It’s great for our program,” Burnett said. “Anything positive is good. It takes a whole group to win something like this. I know they give an award to one person, but it really goes to a program. I feel really good about where we’re at.”
The Pioneers wrestling team put together a stellar year last winter, finishing one match away from a state dual title in February in addition to sending nine wrestlers to the individual state tournament prior to it being canceled because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“I have a long memory and I remember when we were starting out (in 1996) and went through some rough times with some great kids,” Burnett said. “We’ve always had good people, but to see more people buy in as the years have gone on is a testament to everyone involved.”
Numerous Pioneers also found individual success under Burnett this season, as seniors Dylan Shawver and Mick Burnett were each nominated for top wrestler in Ohio with Mick Burnett finishing in third. Mick Burnett — Erik Burnett’s oldest son — also won the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award for Ohio. The Pioneers senior class features four wrestlers who are committed to wrestle in college: Burnett (Pittsburgh), Shawver (Rutgers), Bryce Allison (Tiffin) and Ben Doehr (Lake Erie).
“It takes a whole group to win something like this ... it really goes to a program.” — Erik Burnett
“It’s always going to be about the kids and what they’re willing to sacrifice,” Burnett said.”The refs aren’t coming over after the match and raising the coach’s hand, they raise the kids’ hand.”
In the time since the pandemic cut the wrestling season short, Burnett and his coaching staff have been trying to connect with their team virtually. As more and more of the nation begins to reopen, Burnett’s eager to get back in the wrestling room with his team.
“The closer we get back to doing things again, the better I feel,” he said. “It’s been an odd situation and we’ve talked a lot with the team about the uncharted territory that we’re still in. Just to see baseball players play baseball and softball players play softball, it’s really good to see so hopefully that puts everyone one step further. When this happened, we had kids who were used to doing something seven days a week and that pretty much got shut down.”
Burnett’s connection to the other winners runs deep, as he’s friends with Tim Roberts, who was named NWCA’s National Boys Coach of the Year. Roberts coaches at Dundee High School in Dundee, Mich.
“Tim does a great job with his program,” Burnett said. “I get to see him here and there and we pick each other’s brains and talk about wrestling.”
While the pandemic kept Burnett away from his team for longer than he would have wanted, he’s hoping the time away helped give his team some extra determination.
“Everybody in life tends to take things for granted,” Burnett said. “If you don’t take something good out of a negative situation then you’re wasting your time.”