When Air Academy wrestler David Burchett watched his younger brother get his two front teeth knocked in during a match, it almost put him off his game. 

Outside circumstances sometimes affect the older Burchett, but with three COS Metro Wrestling Championship titles and a fourth on the line, the senior knew he couldn’t let the opportunity slip by.

In fact, he would be the third boy to win four titles in the tournament’s 25-year history after Discovery Canyon’s Patrick Allis (2016-19) and Pine Creek’s Geordan Martinez (2010-13).

With three pins and his longest bout lasting one minute and 25 seconds Friday, one couldn’t tell the older Burchett was phased at all. 

“That was really hard to work through,” Burchett, the 2024, 157-pound state champion, said. “It’s cool and all to go for four, but everyone knows I can win a state title, I’ve done it before. That’s really what I’m after. It is a cool achievement to have under my belt but it’s not going to be easy.” 

The Burchett brothers, both named David, will try to help Air Academy win its first metro championship team title in Saturday’s semifinals. The Kadets sit in sixth place going into Saturday’s competition with 99.5 points, while Pine Creek leads with 159 points.

The younger Burchett, a freshman, persevered through his injury to win the quarterfinal bout and will be ready to compete in the 144-pound semifinals. 

Burchett advanced to the semifinals after taking down Woodland Park’s Brayden Hancock in the 157-pound quarterfinals and will face Coronado senior Cole Siffring in the semis. The two have faced each other in greco-style competition, but it will be the first time competing in folkstyle, according to Burchett. 

“He just needs to do what he’s been doing,” Air Academy head coach Brandon Lucero said. “He has the mindset of competing like he would at the state tournament. With wrestling it’s making it a lifestyle, what you put in day in and day out. He does that better than anyone as far as dedication. He trains like a college and pro athlete and it shows.”

Wrestling runs in the Burchett family, with their dad, also named David Burchett, being a four-time Illinois state champion and assistant coach at Air Academy. Burchett has wrestled since he was 4-years-old and has helped his brother become a competitive wrestler, especially since being on the same team. 

“He’s not afraid to get extra time in the morning with brother,” Lucero said. “With the high level of the sport and high level of Colorado wrestling, it makes a difference.”

Burchett, a Doane University commit, transferred from Falcon and has elevated Air Academy wrestling since joining this year. 

“He has raised the level in the room significantly,” Lucero said. “We’ve got a really good team but he brings his own style in and brings it to another level. The whole team has elevated to it. It makes for a solid lineup and hopefully a team run for a state title.”

Burchett is 25-1 after Friday and hopes to win another state title while getting as many pins as possible. Greco is his specialty, but he enjoys the challenge of other styles and even competing in higher weight classes. 

His next challenge comes Saturday and, with a clear head, he feels confident in making tournament history. 

“If I don’t freeze up and get in my head I should be fine,” Burchett said. “I just tell myself to keep wrestling and the rest will fall into place.”

Correction: An earlier version of this story omitted previous four-time champion in the tournament’s history.

Boys team scores 

Pine Creek 159

Widefield 124.5

Cañon City 103

The Classical Academy 102

Palmer Ridge 100

Air Academy 99.5

Fountain-Fort Carson 85

Sand Creek 71

Cheyenne Mountain 58.5

Elizabeth 58.5

Discovery Canyon 55

Falcon 54

Coronado 53

Lewis-Palmer 50 

Liberty 44.5

Woodland Park 44

Vista Ridge 43

Doherty 42.5

Mesa Ridge 40.5

Colorado Springs Christian 34

James Irwin 30

Sierra 22

Peyton 22

Rampart 21

Palmer/Mitchell 19