Wrestler of the Week: Da’mani Burns

The d3wrestle.com Wrestler of the Week is Da’mani Burns of Johnson & Wales. Burns won the New Standard Invitational at 149 lbs. this past weekend, coming out on top of a loaded field. The fourth seeded Burns opened the event with three pins before facing 2018 NCAA 141 lbs. runner-up Brett Kaliner of Stevens. Burns got his fourth pin of the tournament, stopping Kaliner in 2:50. In the finals, he defeated NCAA qualifier Stanley Bleich of Baldwin Wallace 7-5 in overtime. Also in the bracket was 2018 NCAA 149 lbs. runner-up Greg Warner of York. Burns helped lead Johnson & Wales to the team title in the event.

Burns, a senior from Newburgh, New York, is currently 12-2 with a championship at the Roger Williams Invitational to go along with his New Standard win. He previously wrestled at Cortland where he compiled a 27-10 record over two seasons. He is now ranked 2nd in both the d3wrestle.com and NWCA rankings at 149 lbs. After the team title at York, Johnson & Wales has moved up to 3rd in the team rankings. The Wildcats will take on Coast Guard on Friday before heading to WPI for three matches on Saturday.