BC's Burke, Schuck more than ready for postseason

While many looking closely inside the exceptional field of teams and individual wrestlers at this weekend's Class 2A Belvidere regional, both Shane Burke and Taylor Schuck see something else.

The opportunity to succeed.

Despite having 4 teams rated in the top 20 of the state, and an endless supply of highly ranked wrestlers all throughout the brackets, Burke, Schuck and even Burlington Central head coach Tony Rigitano welcome the challenge ahead of them.

"Yeah, it a tough regional, probably the toughest of them all in the state at 2A," says Rigitano. "But we've prepared this team all season long with a difficult nonconference and tournament schedule, and we feel that we'll be ready on Saturday."

"I'd rather come out of the hardest, toughest regional, then sectional before going downstate, because then you know you've wrestled the best, and after that, nothing should faze you," Schuck said.

Adds his mate Burke: "It's kind of an old-saying, but everyone enters the postseason 0-0, and it doesn't matter what you did before this weekend begins," offered Burke, sounding like an old sage instead of one of the best at his craft in the 130-pound division in the state.

The senior begins this weekend as the No. 4 rated in 2A, with a 28-5 overall record, that includes championship belts at the Sterling, Harvard and Kaneland tournaments, with one of his losses coming at the hands of No. 3 rated Jason Montemayer (5-4) in a recent quad with 3A power Grant.

"Our schedule has become so much better from my first year (here) and I think it prepares each of us for just about any kind of opponent or situation that you'll run into during the postseason," said Burke, who will not continue to wrestle when he goes on to Iowa State next fall, instead, joining the water skiing team.

"Yes, Iowa State has lakes and a water ski team," laughed Burke.

Burke made his first state appearance last February, where he joined teammate Johnny Major inside Assembly Hall, and despite his early elimination, the experience was all good, according to the two-time regional champion.

"It was awesome being down (there) on the floor, and going through it all, and I know, when I get there again, I'll be ready to reach my goal of coming home with a state medal," he said.

Burke, along with Schuck and two other Rocketss, all would earn first-place medals at the Sycamore regional two years ago, to help the Rockets win the team title.

However, that was it on the individual side of things as the club failed to send anyone through and into the state tournament that season, as the Rockets continue their search for the first state medal in school history.

"I think a lot of us would like to be the first to bring home a state medal," admits Schuck (23-2 and No. 3 in the state), who earlier in the season defeated, then No. 1 Jared Koch (Marian Central) 8-4.

The big senior, who says his older brother Matt has been a terrific role model to follow after three straight state appearances, figures loads of time spent during the summer in freestyle wrestling, and trips to Overtime in Naperville have rounded out all the little things in his game, including his top position.

"This season I have been able to (turn) more of my opponents, and change or set the pace of the match," says Schuck, who is looking forward to a 6-minute brawl with No. 7 Devon Walker (DeKalb) should the two meet in the final on Saturday.

Schuck signed early on to attend Central Michigan next season, and will redshirt during his freshmen season, in anticipation of a four-year career in the sport he has so much passion for.

"I've been wrestling since I was 6 years old, and have been around the sport for so long, watching my brother, and just observing every little thing about it," he said.

"Taylor is like another coach, because he notices everything, and he can tell you something about the smallest thing in your game. He's amazing," says Burke.

The Rockets' dynamic-duo won't take anything for granted, but if all goes well, they, and hopefully several others from the club will advance into the Sterling sectional next weekend.