SIOUX FALLS — Burk Blasius’ budding high school sports career added another chapter on Saturday.

The Wall High School senior is a multi-sport athlete, competing in football, wrestling and rodeo. In football, he powered Wall to the 2022 Class 9AA state football championship. In the rodeo arena, he’s a tie-down and team roper. 

In wrestling, he put an exclamation mark on his prep career with a fourth consecutive Class B state championship. Blasius accomplished the feat for the Philip/Kadoka Area/Wall Badlands Brawlers, and this one feels special because of the adversity he faced. 

“First and foremost, I want to thank my Lord and savior Jesus Christ,” Blasius said. “I thanked him a lot. This season, I am suffering a hamstring injury. It happened in regions and I put my faith and trust in him and it worked out in the end. This one feels sweet. There’s no next year for me now in high school sports and to end it with a win is awesome. I get to put my name in the record books as being a four-timer. It’s just exciting.”

His sore hamstring bothered him at the state meet, but Blasius praised his inner circle for aiding him during the event.  

“The first day I didn’t have anything on it and it just hurt,” Blasius said. “I want to thank my two brothers, Blair and Lane. They kind of got me taped up and had it feeling pretty good. I am thankful for everyone and my coaches for what they did for me. To win four is awesome.”

On Saturday, Blasius dominated en route to his fourth state championship. He picked up a 17-5 major decision over Custer’s Ryder Bailey in the Class B 175-pound championship match. Blasius recorded six takedowns in the victory, stamping his wrestling legacy with another title. 

“I wanted to go out and be dominant,” Blasius said. “When the match ended, I held up four and just kind of looked at the crowd. The atmosphere is amazing. I love the fans. It’s a surreal experience.”

An experience Blasius won’t feel again as his high school wrestling career closes. 

“Obviously I have been successful at football, but I prioritize that mostly to my wrestling career,” Blasius said. “In football I am able to rely on other guys, but wrestling, win or loss, it’s 100% on you. That’s made me a more competitive athlete and it’s made me want to improve my game not only in wrestling, but in my academics and other sports.”

But his wrestling career isn’t finished just yet.  

“I think I might pursue wrestling in college,” he said. “I am not sure where yet. I am excited about what life has ahead for me and the road I am going to take and I am excited for what that’s going to bring.”