Northern Colorado wrestler's Faith is key to his drive

"Faith" is the word that best describes UNC senior wrestler Gabe Burak.

Burak, who won three Colorado high school state championships at Coronado High School in Colorado Springs, transferred to the University of Northern Colorado for his fifth and final year of wrestling from the University of Pennsylvania, and the move influenced the Bears' wrestling room from day one.

"Gabe is a quality guy," UNC head coach Ben Cherrington said. "He practices what he preaches in every walk of life. That's the type of person you need in a leadership role. We are very fortunate to have him on our team, even just for one year. He has made a huge impact on our young guys."

Redshirt freshman Charlie McMartin, Burak's roommate, said Burak challenges people around him to have big goals.

Burak, who was raised with a strong faith in God, has applied that faith to every facet of life, fueling the fire that propels him to succeed. Belief is one thing that Burak said will always sit inside him.

"My faith is the most important thing in my life," Burak said. "It allowed me to seek and guide every aspect of my life."

Burak has gone 19-2 for the Bears this season, which is not surprising considering how athletic his family is.

His father wrestled at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania, his mother was a gymnast at the University of Minnesota and his two little brothers both wrestle. A devout religious family, the Buraks were taught to know God personally. Burak attributes his successes in life and athletics to the Lord.

His teammates and peers easily notice that belief.

"Gabe is a guy who cares a lot about people," McMartin said. "The qualities of the people around him are enhanced when he is around them. He doesn't domineer or overshadow them but encourages them to be who they are."

With teammates and coaches, and much of his family and friends, watching, it is difficult for Burak to please everyone, although he said would like to. But Burak said he looks to please more than just them.

"When you're just living to serve and please those around you, if no one is watching then you might not give your best," he said. "I still struggle with that, but I know that God is with me wherever I'm at, so I want to seek to give my very best, to have a passion, whether that's here in the wrestling room, doing school, whatever area it's in, to do my very best that is done to the Lord. As I'm doing that, I do hope that others see a difference and it affects my teammates."

Burak will look to earn All-American honors at the end of this season, a distinction he's fallen just short of in years past. Cherrington found himself in the same position as Burak at Boise State but managed to earn the status in his senior year. Burak looks to follow in Cherrington's footsteps.

"This is his last chance, and he is going to throw all the cards on the table," Cherrington said.

With high goals for not only himself but also everyone around him, Burak heads into the upcoming Western Wrestling Conference Championships with few worries.

"He's is not a guy that is afraid, or (shies) away from the hard things in life," McMartin said. "He'll face those head on.