Darryl Burley

Darryl Burley needed only one statistic for induction into New Jersey’s Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. During his career at Lehigh University he reached the NCAA finals all four years. Since the NCAA Division I tournament began in 1947, only 17 wrestlers have accomplished that. Only four wrestlers have been four-time champions.

He finished as a two-time national champion, with only 5 losses in 100 career matches. During that time he also won a Midlands Tournament title (selected Outstanding Wrestler), as well as finishing second twice and third once.

A four-time Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association champion, one of four Lehigh wrestlers to do so, Darryl was also a two-time champion and six-time finalist at the Midlands Tournament.

A three-time dstrict champion at Pemberton High School, he went on to win two region titles and as a senior in 1979 was a state champion while being voted OW.

In 1978 he took second place in the Junior Nationals in freestyle, in 1982 took fifth place in the AAU Nationals, in 1984 placed second at the US National Open as well as taking third place in the US Olympic Trials. In 1985 he won the US National Open.

In 1983 Burley was selected Amateur Wrestler of the Year. He is in both the Roger S. Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame and the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Darryl won a silver medal at the prestigious Tbilisi Tournament in 1985 after being an alternate for the United States in the 1984 Olympic Games.

He would go on to graduate from the Hofstra University School of Law, and has since coached at various wrestling clubs in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including the Wrecking Crew Wrestling Club in Medford, NJ.

Currently he is a substitute teacher and assistant coach at the Cannon School in Concord, NC, and been a clinician at various university and high school camps.

Burley has also worked in the private sector, having designed, developed and implemented vocational and acute nursing skilled facilities, geared towards individuals with developmental and medical disabilities.

He is the father of two daughters, Phobelien and Arryl.

Awards:

Year
2022
Award
Lifetime Service to Wrestling
Chapter/Region
New Jersey

All American Awards:

Season
1983
School
Lehigh
Tournament
Division I
Weight
142
Place
1
Season
1981
School
Lehigh
Tournament
Division I
Weight
134
Place
2
Season
1980
School
Lehigh
Tournament
Division I
Weight
134
Place
2
Season
1979
School
Lehigh
Tournament
Division I
Weight
134
Place
1

College Season Records:

Season
1983
School
Lehigh
Class
Senior
Bouts
26
Wins
26
Losses
0
Ties
0
Falls
10
Win PCT.
100
Place
1st
Season
1981
School
Lehigh
Class
Junior
Bouts
25
Wins
23
Losses
1
Ties
1
Falls
6
Win PCT.
92
Place
2nd
Season
1980
School
Lehigh
Class
Sophomore
Bouts
24
Wins
22
Losses
2
Ties
0
Falls
7
Win PCT.
91.67
Place
2nd
Season
1979
School
Lehigh
Class
Freshman
Bouts
25
Wins
23
Losses
2
Ties
0
Falls
10
Win PCT.
92
Place
1st
Season
Career
Bouts
100
Wins
94
Losses
5
Ties
1
Falls
33
Win PCT.
94

All Rankings:

Season
1983
Rank Date
11/29/1982
Weight
142
Rank
1
School
Lehigh
Season
1983
Rank Date
12/13/1982
Weight
142
Rank
1
School
Lehigh
Season
1983
Rank Date
12/30/1982
Weight
142
Rank
1
School
Lehigh
Season
1983
Rank Date
02/28/1983
Weight
142
Rank
1
School
Lehigh
Season
1983
Rank Date
03/10/1983
Weight
142
Rank
1
School
Lehigh
Season
1981
Rank Date
01/26/1981
Weight
134
Rank
1
School
Lehigh
Season
1981
Rank Date
02/09/1981
Weight
134
Rank
1
School
Lehigh
Season
1981
Rank Date
02/26/1981
Weight
134
Rank
1
School
Lehigh
Season
1981
Rank Date
03/12/1981
Weight
134
Rank
1
School
Lehigh

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