To red-shirt or not, Burak should answer question at Midlands

EVANSTON, Ill. - To red-shirt or not to red-shirt, that is the question.

The Midlands Championships should provide the answer as it pertains to University of Iowa All-American Nathan Burak.

Burak will return to action for Northwestern University's 52nd Ken Kraft Midlands Championships on Monday and Tuesday at Welsh-Ryan Arena. He received the top pre-seed at 197 pounds, competing for the first time since his Luther Open title to start the season.

An undisclosed injury sidelined him from competition after the opening tournament. Burak said he was banged up earlier, but is better now.

'I'm feeling good,” Burak said. 'I'm feeling strong. Training has been going pretty good. I'm ready to go.”

Burak is wrestling unattached, meaning he is not an official member of the Iowa wrestling team and does not receive assistance from the program to wrestle in the tournament. It will preserve the junior's ability to red-shirt, if his injury is aggravated or experiences a lackluster performance.

'He wants to go,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. 'We have to make sure it's the right thing. This Midlands will tell us a lot.”

The goal remains the same no matter what singlet he wears. Burak has his sights set on a Midlands title.

'I'm going to wrestle to the best of my ability,” Burak said. 'Go to dominate. Go to win.”

Burak, who is ranked as high as sixth nationally and a two-time NCAA qualifier, placed eighth at the 2014 NCAA Championships. He was expected to be a necessary contributor to the top-ranked Hawkeyes' push for their first national title since 2010. The decision is much more complicated than it seems.

'We have to stay on the plan,” Brands said. 'We have to stay on it and do the right thing, not just for the program (but) for him too.

'When you have that option, be smart about the option.”

According to Burak, the ultimate decision is up to Brands. He was asked if he had a preference on what choice is made after Midlands.

'Yes and no, but I trust the coaches,” Burak said. 'I think what they decide for me is often what's best for me.”

The Hawkeyes have been down a similar road with Burak. Last year, his first competition of the season was the Midlands due to an unspecified medical condition. A red-shirt year was considered but a strong finished led to his return to the starting lineup. Brands is looking for something similar.

'A good strong performance,” Brands said. 'I think he was third last year as a red-shirt. It pretty much cemented our decision to take him out of red-shirt.”

Burak said he was limited in practices weeks ago, but has been 'full go” recently. He said this time has been different, taking the mat at Luther and working as if he were getting the call for meets. Burak said he still has aspirations of being a national champion this season.

'I spent getting ready for the Iowa State and Michigan State duals, so I still got ready like I was going to weigh in and wrestle for them,” Burak said. 'I've been wrestling a lot here. I'm still preparing in practice.”

Kris Klapprodt and Alex Meyer have filled in during Burak's absence. Both will be among the 17 Hawkeyes in the field. Klapprodt is 8-3 this season at 197, while Meyer is 9-1, including eight wins at 174. Meyer won his only bout at 197, recording a 6-5 decision over Michigan State's Nick McDiarmid.

'We have some options, too, that might not be real evident on the outside looking in, but are evident to us, meaning that there is a lot of firepower at other weights that we claim there,” Brands said. 'We have some pretty tough guys at some weights below 197 that are good options at 197.”

Burak shares Brands' confidence in anyone stepping in his place, noting they both train hard.

'I think they're both really tough guys,” Burak said. 'I know they can do well.”

Other questions could be answered, especially at 149 and 157. Brody Grothus received the No., 3 pre-seed and Brandon Sorensen was eighth at 149. At 157, Mike Kelly is the fifth pre-seed and Edwin Cooper is ninth, moving up a weight.

'This will tell as much as anything all year has told,” Brands said. 'It is pretty important.”

Sorensen was third at this tournament last year as a freshman. The Hawkeyes will have a couple freshmen, looking to make an impact in the traditional event. Seth Gross (141), Burke Paddock (174) and heavyweight Sam Stoll are among those wrestling unattached.

'We're greedy,” Brands said of the freshmen. 'We want to see more and more and more. We realize there is a learning curve and this is a big test to see where they are at.”

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