COLLEGE REPORT: Burdick twins supporting each other
By Pete Jackel
In the darkness of their bedroom, twin brothers Joel and Jon Burdick used to have nightly conversations that evolved so drastically over the years.
During the innocence of their childhood, they talked of scoring touchdowns and hitting home runs. Once they grew into their teens, girls replaced unbelievable feats in athletic arenas for the 2001 Park High School graduates as they talked before drifting off to sleep.
Pretty much since they were born 20 minutes apart March 5, 1983 - Joel arrived first - the Burdick brothers have been inseparable. The day is fast approaching when these two UW-Stevens Point seniors will finally go their separate ways, but there's a serious order of business to handle first.
Joel is a leading contender to win the NCAA Division III national championship at 141 pounds (he's 25-6 through Friday). And Jon, a teammate who is more accomplished in the classroom than on wrestling mats, intends to be a constant emotional presence for his brother as Joel takes on this challenge.
"At the beginning of the year, we set goals for ourselves,'' said Jon Burdick, who hopes to become a teacher in the Stevens Point area after graduating this May. "And about midway through, we re-evaluate those goals depending on how the season is going.
"He's had that same goal and that is to become national champion. Knowing that, I tell him, `This is the goal you made and I'm going to hold you to this standard that you want to reach.' "I'm just constantly making sure that he's focusing in on that, working hard toward that goal, match by match. It's like, `This is what you set out to do' and I'm going to hold you to it.'' And when Jon talks, Joel listens. Just as Jon listens to Joel.
"We've got something different,'' Joel Burdick said, "because when other people on our team go through hard times, it's hard for them to come to someone else to talk. But between me and Jon, we've always been able to talk to each other.
"We haven't always been successful. There's been a couple years when we didn't do well, but we just kind of pushed each other through it.'' That was the case in 2000, when Joel failed to qualify for the WIAA State Tournament as a junior at Park and was assured by Jon that he would make it the following season. With the help of Jon's unwavering motivational presence, Joel did just that.
That was the case in 2004, when Joel supported Jon's decision to quit the Stevens Point wrestling program. Joel proceeded to wrestle so well that Jon was inspired to return the following season.
And that remains the case these days, as Joel chases that elusive goal of being a national champion.
"It's actually very do-able,'' Joel Burdick said. "It's just putting it together at the end of the season. We really stress right before the national tournament that there's just four matches. All you have to do is win four matches in a row and you're national champ.'' What would winning a championship mean to Joel? Probably not more than it would mean to Jon.
"It would mean a lot because we've been wrestling together for 17 years now,'' said Jon, who is 15-14 at 149 pounds. "We helped each other out and I would feel a sense of accomplishment, also.
By Pete Jackel
In the darkness of their bedroom, twin brothers Joel and Jon Burdick used to have nightly conversations that evolved so drastically over the years.
During the innocence of their childhood, they talked of scoring touchdowns and hitting home runs. Once they grew into their teens, girls replaced unbelievable feats in athletic arenas for the 2001 Park High School graduates as they talked before drifting off to sleep.
Pretty much since they were born 20 minutes apart March 5, 1983 - Joel arrived first - the Burdick brothers have been inseparable. The day is fast approaching when these two UW-Stevens Point seniors will finally go their separate ways, but there's a serious order of business to handle first.
Joel is a leading contender to win the NCAA Division III national championship at 141 pounds (he's 25-6 through Friday). And Jon, a teammate who is more accomplished in the classroom than on wrestling mats, intends to be a constant emotional presence for his brother as Joel takes on this challenge.
"At the beginning of the year, we set goals for ourselves,'' said Jon Burdick, who hopes to become a teacher in the Stevens Point area after graduating this May. "And about midway through, we re-evaluate those goals depending on how the season is going.
"He's had that same goal and that is to become national champion. Knowing that, I tell him, `This is the goal you made and I'm going to hold you to this standard that you want to reach.' "I'm just constantly making sure that he's focusing in on that, working hard toward that goal, match by match. It's like, `This is what you set out to do' and I'm going to hold you to it.'' And when Jon talks, Joel listens. Just as Jon listens to Joel.
"We've got something different,'' Joel Burdick said, "because when other people on our team go through hard times, it's hard for them to come to someone else to talk. But between me and Jon, we've always been able to talk to each other.
"We haven't always been successful. There's been a couple years when we didn't do well, but we just kind of pushed each other through it.'' That was the case in 2000, when Joel failed to qualify for the WIAA State Tournament as a junior at Park and was assured by Jon that he would make it the following season. With the help of Jon's unwavering motivational presence, Joel did just that.
That was the case in 2004, when Joel supported Jon's decision to quit the Stevens Point wrestling program. Joel proceeded to wrestle so well that Jon was inspired to return the following season.
And that remains the case these days, as Joel chases that elusive goal of being a national champion.
"It's actually very do-able,'' Joel Burdick said. "It's just putting it together at the end of the season. We really stress right before the national tournament that there's just four matches. All you have to do is win four matches in a row and you're national champ.'' What would winning a championship mean to Joel? Probably not more than it would mean to Jon.
"It would mean a lot because we've been wrestling together for 17 years now,'' said Jon, who is 15-14 at 149 pounds. "We helped each other out and I would feel a sense of accomplishment, also.
posted by tbo at 1:33 AM
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