(Atlantic) Former Atlantic High School Wrestling, Baseball, and Football Coach Chuck Burnett will be inducted into the Atlantic/CAM Wrestling Hall of Fame on Friday night. The event is at the Venue at 307 Walnut Street in Atlantic. The doors open at 6:00, with the dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Coach Burnett and Coach Lynn Barnes started the Atlantic wrestling program in 1968. Burnett coached at the varsity level until 1971 when he took over the Junior High program.
Chuck Burnett attended Indianola High School, where he was a multi-sport Athlete. He was selected as the honorary captain his senior year, a state track qualifier, and played in the state baseball tournament. After graduation, Coach Burnett took his talents to Simpson College where he ran track and ran on the team’s 880-yard relay at the Drake Relays. Burnett starred on the gridiron at Simpson. He was a four-year starter at running back, all-conference, his junior and senior seasons, and was selected to the All-American team his senior year as a running back. Coach Burnett was also inducted into the Simpson College Hall of Fame, and currently is the oldest living person in the Hall of Fame today.
Chuck Burnett started his coaching career at Collins, Iowa, coached all sports, and taught World History and Social Studies. His coaching journey continued at Panora and Pella, where he coached football and track for three years before moving to Atlantic in 1964, his final stop.
Coach Burnett served as Atlantic’s Head Varsity Baseball Coach from 1968 to 1980. In addition to those duties, Burnett coached 7th-grade football and freshman/sophomores before joining the varsity staff for 18-years with Coach Lynn Barnes and Head Coach Bob Younger. The trio guided the Atlantic football team to the state playoffs seven times and earned state runner-up finishes in 1974 and 1980. In 1977, Burnett joined Coach Younger at the Iowa Senior Shrine Bowl, coaching the South team to victory over the North.
During his time at Atlantic, Mr. Burnett taught junior high science for 31-years before retiring.
The tickets can be purchased at the door for $15.00. The doors open at 6:00 p.m., with the dinner at 6:30 p.m. All the proceeds, including the silent auction, go towards the Atlantic Trojan Wrestling Club.
