The smell of softball season is in the air and we’re less than a month away from opening day. While we’re all excited for the return of home runs and farmers’ tans, we’re equally as excited for the return of some serious strikeout leaders in NCAA Division II.

When Rocky Burkett took over at Northern State in 2015, wrestling had been reinstated after the University had decided to drop the program earlier that year. Burkett was handed the keys to a program with just seven athletes remaining on the roster. Since then, the Wolves have had winning records, have beaten powerful rivals, and have had a national finalist. All of this makes Burkett a Hometown Heroes finalist.

Bader and Bray catch up with wrestling superfan Screwy Louie, and Hometown Heroes finalist Rocky Burkett.