Burton named FILA Junior/University Person of the Year
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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
07/31/2004
Charles Burton of Lincoln, Neb. was named USA Wrestling' FILA Junior/University Person of the Year. This award goes to a leader(s) who works with athletes and programs on the FILA Junior (ages 17-20) and University (ages 18-24) levels. Burton serves as the assistant wrestling coach at the Univ. of Nebraska, where he has been for two seasons. Previously, he served as an assistant coach at the Univ. of Indiana for four years. He also had assistant coaching experience at Boise State and Iowa State. He served as the tournament director for the FILA Junior National Championships, which was hosted at the Univ. of Nebraska this year. In addition to his coaching during the regular season, Burton also works with the athletes who are competing in USA Wrestling events in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. Burton was a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team in freestyle wrestling, competing at 185 pounds. He placed fifth at the Sydney Olympic Games, reaching the quarterfinals in his weight class. Burton defeated 1997 World Champion Les Gutches in a Special Wrestle-off to earn his spot on the Olympic team. He was third in the 2001 Freestyle World Cup, as well as third in the 1997 Pan American Championships. Burton was twice a U.S. Nationals runner-up (2000-01) and was second in the 1999 World Team Trials. Burton competed for Boise State Univ., where he placed third in the 1996 NCAA Championships. He is originally from Meridian, Idaho. FILA Junior/University Person of the Year 1994 - Bill Crum, New Jersey 1995 - Brad Traviola, Illinois 1996 - Rich Estrella, Colorado, Rob Hermann, Florida, Dan Mello, Virginia and Tony Thomas, Georgia 1997 - Doug Paulson, Minnesota 1998 - Ginny Errett, Indiana 1999 - Joe Russell, Minnesota 2000 - Mike Hess, Washington 2001 - Norm Osteen, South Carolina 2002 - Chris Horpel, California 2003 - Dick Wince and P.J. Smith, North Carolina 2004 - Charles Burton, Nebraska