RUMFORD — Certain great athletes are at their most vulnerable at certain times of the year.

David Ortiz in April.

LeBron James in the spring.

Tiger Woods at Thanksgiving.

Ryan Burgess at regionals.

Burgess has been virtually unbeatable in his three-year wrestling career at Mountain Valley. At 108 career victories, he has a chance at catching Ernie Matthews’ school record. He is a two-time state champion, an All-Star champion, and came within a questionable officiating call of placing at the New England championships as a junior.

But if Burgess has an Achilles heel, it’s the regionals, where he has finished second all three years.

“It’s not a bad thing,” Mountain Valley coach Gary Dolloff said. “Maybe it’s a case of looking ahead.”

One can afford to look ahead at regionals. Winning a regional title is nice, but the real prize is a state championship and qualifying for New Englands.

Burgess can’t explain why his air of invincibility always takes an early school vacation. But as his coach said, it’s not entirely a bad thing.

“I think having that mindset of wanting to beat that kid that beat me gives me an edge at states,” he said.

That need for redemption follows Burgess everywhere, through summer tournaments, preseason workouts, fitness training in the morning and post-practice workouts at night during the season.

“I just practice all the time. I just keep working and getting stronger in the off-season,” he said. “I never forget when I lose. I just want to come back and beat that kid.”

Burgess is the only two-time champion in a talented senior class that has the Falcons pointing toward their first team title in five years. Compared to his peers, he came to the mat late. While most started grappling in grammar school, he gave up basketball and took up wrestling in the 6th grade.

“Once I started, I loved it,” he said. “I just wanted to keep working at it. I wanted to get good.”

He got good quickly, taking third place at states as a 103-pound freshman. A year later he won his first state title, then claimed the 112 crown last season.

Burgess’ quickness, his drive to improve physically and mentally and coachability abetted his rapid rise. 

“He’s very athletic anyway, and his body type is really a blessing,” Dolloff said. “He has a work ethic and desire to get better and to just push himself.

“He’s one of these kids that just focuses, that you can talk to and can coach,” Dolloff added. “He’s won two state championships and he’s still looking for more knowledge.”

He’s also looking for more bulk for his 5-foot-6 frame. Hoping to attract more attention from college coaches, Burgess is moving up to 119.

“The college minimum is 125, and I’ve got to prove that I can wrestle at a higher weight,” he said.

 He’s put on at least 10 pounds but is still three or four short of the mark.

“Last year I weighed 108 wrestling at 112 and it was kind of a disadvantage,” he said.

“He could easily make 112. He’d have to put a little work into it as far as losing weight. But I think he’s comfortable at 119,” Dolloff said. “I think he’s got his mind set on winning three state championships and seeing what he can do at New Englands.”

Burgess dropped to 103 to wrestle at New Englands last March. He won one match and lost two to eventual medalists, including one on a controversial referee’s decision.

“I was rattled the rest of the time. I ended up losing to the kid that took third by one point,” he said.

If he makes New Englands again, Burgess believes he won’t be the lone Falcon. He said this could be the best Mountain Valley team he’s seen.

“I think we could have at least four or five state champs this year if they stick to it and compete at the level they’re capable of,” he said.

If Burgess competes to the level he’s capable of, he could not only reach Matthews’ career wins record but challenge his single-season record of 43. Burgess won 38 last year.

“That’s a tough one. There are matches that you have to lose and come back through (the losers bracket) to get more matches, and he wins all of his matches. He’d almost have to go undefeated,” Dolloff said. “I think he really has a shot at both of them.”

Whether he makes those records his own or not, Burgess has already made his mark with Dolloff, who is retiring from coaching after this season.

“It took a couple of years to appreciate him, but now I look back and it’s been a great four years,” Dolloff said. “I’ve been really lucky to have a kid like that on my team.”

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