COLLEGE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Parker Burns

Year: Junior

School: Campbell University

Sport: Wrestling

Hometown: Everett (Everett High)

What he did: Became the first Campbell wrestler since 2002 to qualify for the NCAA championships. A 197-pounder, Burns lost his first match to the seventh-ranked wrestler in his weight class while competing last week in Omaha, Neb.

What’s next: Burns wrapped up his junior season with a 13-8 record.

The two-minute drill

When you went to Campbell, did you think the NCAA championships were a realistic goal?

Definitely. My high school coach (Brien Elliott), who was a big inspiration, always pushed me to my limits. He was always there to support me. It’s definitely something I worked hard to get to, and something I had in my sights.

Everyone loves an underdog this time of year. How long were your odds once you got there?

I’m sure a lot of people hadn’t heard of Campbell, so I was definitely an underdog. One of my first matches of the season, I beat the No. 9-ranked guy (Virginia’s Brent Jones), so my name was kind of out there. But for the most part, I was definitely overlooked. It was nice to be the underdog.

Did you see any wrestlers there, past or present, who you idolized from afar?

Cael Sanderson. The Brands brothers (Terry and Tom). Ben Askren. Seeing all those other past champions and Olympians — just being up there close and seeing those guys — it’s kind of a humbling experience.

Other than NCAA tournament wrestler Parker Burns, what is Campbell known for?

We actually have a pretty good athletic department. Our men’s soccer team has been in the tournament two of the last three years, and we have a really good softball team. It’s a small school. Actually, I get a lot of (teasing). I mean, in high school the nickname was the Seagulls, and whatever — that’s my school, and I’m proud of it. But I came to college, and we’re the Camels. Decide for yourself whether that’s an upgrade or a downgrade.

Yeah, but is anyone stupid enough to make fun of the Camels nickname to your face?

I definitely have some buddies back home give me (flak). Lucky they’re friends of mine.

What’s the worst thing about being a Camel?

(Laughs) That’s easy. The mascot. His name is Gaylord the Fighting Camel. I try to keep that out of the conversation.

What’s it going to take for you to replace Otto Olson as Everett High’s best wrestling product?

Geez. Just to be in the same sentence as Otto Olson … he’s definitely an idol to me. The career that he had, both in high school and college, I look up to that. It’s amazing. I don’t like to compare myself at all to Otto. He’s on a whole different level.

Fifteen years ago, a college wrestler wouldn’t have had many opportunities in professional athletics other than the WWE. Now there’s Mixed Martial Arts and the UFC. Is that a goal for you?

When I was younger, I was really big on it. I knew that’s where a lot of wrestlers would end up. But I don’t know. My body … I don’t know how some of those guys last. I see some of these coaches and ex-wrestlers, and they’re all beat up. And I don’t know if I could get hit in the face and keep going back for more. It’s interesting, but I think I like watching it on pay-per-view more than I would getting into the ring.

So you can really appreciate another Snohomish County product, Lynnwood’s Randy Couture?

Definitely. That’s a Washington guy. Being out here with all these guys from Pennsylvania and New York, I like to boast when I see Randy Couture: “I’m from where he’s from.” There’s someone I can brag about.

So if the UFC isn’t for you, what’s in your future?

Well, I’m a business administration major right now. I really don’t have anything planned. I know I don’t want an office job. I want to stay in the sport of wrestling somehow. For what it’s done for me, and everything my coaches have done for me, I definitely want to stay involved in the sport. But I don’t know. I just want to do something where I can wake up every day and be happy with what I’m doing.