Adam Burkhart is a senior captain on the boys varsity wrestling team. This will be his fourth year in the program, and he hopes to qualify for the IHSA state tournament this year. So far this season, the varsity team is 4-0.

Q: What’s the best thing about wrestling?

A: The best thing about wrestling is that when you get out on the mat, it’s only yourself that’s doing everything. So if you make a mistake, you can’t blame other people for it. It’s all what you do so I think that is what makes it different from every other sport. I kind of like how it’s different from every sport.

Q: What’s the worst thing about wrestling?

A: The worst part about it is having to be very disciplined with your weight and, again, you’re not able to blame anybody else for your mistakes. So you have to own up to any mistake you make on the mat, but definitely having to manage your weight is the hardest part about it.

Q: What is the biggest contribution you make to your team?

A: Being a senior leader on the team, you really get to help all of the freshman or any other underclassmen develop as a wrestler. I think it’s great that all of us help them that way.

Q: Do you have any personal goals for this season?

A: My personal goal for this season is to qualify for state and hopefully place at state. I’ve qualified for sectionals, which it goes regionals, sectionals, state. So I’ve made it past one step in the process, but I’ll be lucky to make it past sectionals.

Q: How have you evolved as a wrestler throughout the years?

A: Well, since freshman year, my maturity has evolved. On the mat, I’ve begun to wrestle smarter and not be so crazy, and I have definitely gotten stronger so that has helped me a lot.

Q: Do you have any coaches or mentors that have inspired you?

A: Champ has definitely inspired all of the wrestlers in the room, including myself. He always has great pointers and tips. It’s great to have a coach who is not just telling you what to do on the mat but also wrestles with you in practice and shows you what to do during practice. He’s out there sweating with us and everything, and I think that is a great way to coach a team.