In 1996 and 2000, Bruce Burnett had the most prominent and challenging wrestling coaching job in the nation. As the National Freestyle Coach for USA Wrestling, Burnett was the man responsible for the success of the U.S. freestyle wrestlers at the Olympic Games.    Freestyle wrestling is serious business in the United States. American wrestling fans expect Team USA to win medals at the Olympics and challenge for international supremacy. There are high expectations to perform, and Bruce Burnett was in the center of that intense situation.    Burnett was no stranger to coaching at a very high level. Before joining USA Wrestling, Burnett was the top assistant coach at Oklahoma State Univ., the most storied college program in the nation. Working with Joe Seay, Burnett helped build a national championship team in Stillwater. He tutored many of the most talented college wrestlers in the nation and the Cowboys reached the top of the game under his guidance.    Prior to that, he was one of the most successful high school coaches in the nation, with an outstanding record coaching state champions in Idaho.     In 2000, Burnett decided to move from coaching international freestyle wrestling to accept the head coaching job at the U.S. Naval Academy. He made the decision prior to the start of the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, After the U.S. won four Olympic medals in freestyle, he left Colorado Springs for the East Coast and took on a new challenge in Annapolis.    "I have been blessed to work with high school state champions, NCAA champions and World and Olympic champions," said Burnett. "You take all that information and draw what you can from it when you coach."    Navy has had success in wrestling in the past. However, Burnett was taking on a new challenge that included working with athletes who did not have the natural skills or reputation of the stars he coached at USA Wrestling and at Oklahoma State.    "Coaching is coaching," said Burnett. "The key is to take a guy who has not reached his potential and take him to the next level."    Burnett brought in an assistant coach who he felt had a tremendous amount to offer the program, not only in coaching ability but also character. His choice was Joel Sharratt, a NCAA champion for the Univ. of Iowa, and a talented freestyle wrestler who trained under Burnett during his years as National Coach. Sharratt was excited about the challenge of working with the Navy program.    "What attracted me to the program was the mystique here," said Sharratt. "You walk past the gate with a guy holding a gun. Nobody knows what goes on inside that fence. It has a mystique here, just like in the Iowa wrestling room."    Burnett found it rough going in his first few seasons with the Navy team, trying to help the athletes learn what it takes to be winners.    "It was humbling," said Burnett. "I believe I understand wrestling and what you need to win. I was just not happening. It was like building something, one brick at a time."    This year, Navy has a strong team, with a successful athlete at almost every weight class. Navy has been ranked in the Top 20 nationally this season, winning some dual meets against respected teams. It is a "blue collar" team, according to Burnett, which has earned everything it has achieved.     It is a team, Burnett notes, without any superstars. None of the Navy athletes received a No. 1 seed at this event, with the highest seed being No. 2 Nate Gulosh at 141 pounds.    "We can't overlook anyone," said Burnett. "Every time you step on the mat, you have to be ready. You have to stay in your strong areas, and stay away from your weak areas. If you do that, in the third period of matches, you are solid."    Identifying strengths and weaknesses in a wrestler is something Burnett has done his entire career, whether working with an Olympic champion, a high school or college talent, or in this case, a U.S. Naval Academy wrestler.    "Even the best guys in the world have strengths and weaknesses," said Burnett. "Even with talented athletes, if they don't know what their weaknesses are, they get beat. Even the stars have to work on one or two key things in order to win."    Burnett, Sharratt and his staff have learned how to work with the athletes in the program and teach them a style and strategy to be successful.    "The guys I work with now, if they follow a game plan and stick with it, they can win matches," said Burnett. "They aren't just going to dance around and take down their opponents. They have to prepare for everything that can occur in a match."    Burnett has a tremendous respect for all of the athletes in his program, not just as athletes, but for their character and potential as leaders.    "Wrestling is just a part of life. For many guys, wrestling is the most important thing for a period of their lives," said Burnett. "I am blessed. Wrestling is a hobby and I get paid for it. The kids who come here won't become wrestling coaches. I look at them and they are still kids. You want to influence them in a positive way. They will be the leaders of America at some point in their lives. They will do greater things than what they do on the mat."    The timing is right for Navy, which is serving as the host of the EIWA Championships this year. Wrestling in its home gym has certain advantages for the squad, something that could make a difference in the very close matches that could determine the team race. Burnett has set some high goals for the program, something that they could achieve this weekend.    "Third in the EIWA would be big," he said. "We haven't done that for a long time. It is all about getting guys to the national tournament. When we get to this stage of the season, it becomes the athlete's deal. They know that on Monday morning, they will be checking in their gear or they will be going to nationals."    This year could prove to be a stepping stone for the program, which Burnett believes could reach higher on the national level.    "We beat some ranked teams this year," said Burnett. "It is not easy to break through that barrier. First, you have to be in the top 20 to be in the top 10. There is a believing process. You have to be confident to succeed. If you train hard, prepare and see success, then you can move forward."    Both Burnett and Sharratt enjoy working with the Navy wrestlers, and feel the atmosphere for success exists in the system at the academy.    "This is a warrior institution," said Burnett. "Wrestling is a warrior sport. It is a perfect fit."