University of Central Missouri Athletics

A graduate of West Des Moines (Iowa) Valley High School, he transferred to Central Missouri from Northwest Missouri State University. As a junior, he set the Mules' single-season record for wins, compiling a record of 44-6-2, en route to his national title. The following year he produced a record of 40-3-1 and successfully defended his national championship of the previous year. He became the first athlete in Central Missouri State history to win two individual national championships.

At that time, individual champions in Division II were allowed to advance to the Division I championship and Burrell became the first and only Mules' wrestler to win a match at the Division I Tournament, winning three and losing two. In addition to his single-season record for wins, Burrell still owns the Mules' records for best career winning percentage (.890), most points in a season (167), most technical falls in a season (8) and career (10) and most takedowns in a season (169). He ranks fourth in career wins for the Mules with a career mark of 84-9-3.