Wrestler Gabe Burak headed back to Colorado

An update on wrestler Gabe Burak, who graduated last spring:

Much like basketball player Danny Monckton, Burak gained a fifth year of eligibility after sitting out a season due to injury -- he transferred to Penn from the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs before the 2007-08 season, but wrestled in just 10 matches that season. The DP has learned that Burak has moved back to his home state to wrestle for Division I Northern Colorado (the post-grad year cannot be used at an Ivy League school, according to league rules). As a high schooler, he won three Colorado state championships, compiling an incredible 125-1 record over that span.

“Gabe is great kid and will impact out team in a number of ways,” Bears coach Ben Charrington told flowrestling.org. “Not only will he make an impact on the mat and in the classroom for us, he will also bring tremendous levels of maturity and leadership skills to this team. We feel fortunate to have added such a quality person to the UNC Wrestling family.”

The fifth year will give him one final shot to become an All-American after he fell painfully short at the Wells Fargo Center last March. The 165-pounder earned his first NCAA tournament victory in Round 1, and rallied from a 2nd round loss to win two straight consolation matches. In the Round of 12, however, he lost to Hoftra's P.J. Gillespie. Burak finished his Penn career with an 86-36 career record, including a 23-8 mark as a senior. He was twice named an All-Ivy honorable mention and qualified for NCAAs during his final two seasons.

Gabe's brother, 197-pounder Micah Burak, is entering his junior season at Penn.