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Burkhart gets third at state, dedicates performance to Fairfield coach
Burkhart reached the podium in the 2A 175-pound bracket
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
DES MOINES — Dain Burkhart shared an emotional hug with Steve Miller. The Fairfield wrestling coach shared a long message with his senior athlete shortly before Burkhart spoke with media members at Saturday’s Iowa High School Athletic Association state wrestling championships.
“Ever since second grade when I started wrestling, he was one of the coaches,” Burkhart said. “I played baseball, it was him as a coach. I've been with his son (Cason Miller) for 12 years. That whole family's just meant so much, both for my athletics and personal life.”
Burkhart just finished a marathon bout with a 9-8 overtime victory over Mount Vernon’s Caysen Curran to wrap up his wrestling career with a podium finish at state. He was quick to dedicate the victory to the coach who’s always been in his corner.
Miller has helped Burkhart through the ups and downs of the wrestling season. He’s also continued coaching Burkhart and his Fairfield teammates through immense personal tragedy after his daughter, and Burkhart’s senior classmate at Fairfield, Emmelia Miller, died in a car accident on Jan. 24.
“He was there for us every day,” Burkhart said. “Every day after, he's been there for us, and that's the strongest thing I've seen anyone do, and I knew that this was just the bare minimum I could do for it.”
Emmelia’s death hit the Fairfield community hard. Other schools across Southeast Iowa expressed support. Sports became a vehicle to share thoughts, prayers and condolences. Fairfield girls wrestler Samantha Lyons, who Miller also coaches, sported henna tattoos honoring Emmelia’s life during the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union state tournament.
The weight of the tragedy remains. But the close relationship between Burkhart and Miller was highlighted by triumph in the moments that followed Burkhart’s third-place victory. After the match official lifted Burkhart’s arm, the senior and his coach shared a bear hug in the Fairfield corner.
“You’ve coached these kids since they were knee high and seen them struggle and go through some of the pain they've gone through,” Miller said. “So to see it come to fruition like this for him, it's just an amazing story, and it's a community story.”
After falling to No. 2 seed Kyler Crow of Mediapolis in the championship semifinals, Burkhart picked up wins over No. 3 seed Ayden Antonelli of Anamosa and No. 5 seed Kasen Tyler of Decorah on his way to the third place match.
Both matches were battles that the senior had to work through meticulously. He beat Antonelli on a decision 9-5 and Tyler on a 6-3 decision.
Though he was the lone Fairfield representative at state, Burkhart leaned on his teammates to help him through the tough matches. Burkhart credited senior Calvin McClain for showing him a neck wrench technique. He occasionally utilized arm drags, a move he said sophomore Dusty Haynes enjoys.
“It wasn't just my style I put out there,” Burkhart said. “I made sure to put in a bit of everything, and it paid off big.”
Burkhart also credited Cason, a former state qualifier for the Trojans who graduated in 2025, for helping him improve this season during trips back to Fairfield. Burkhart’s third-place finish beat Miller’s best performance at state, which was fourth place in 2024.
“After I lost the semifinals, I told him I made it farther than he ever did,” Burkhart said with a smile. “But, I couldn't have done it without him.”
Burkhart had to battle mentally as much as physically against Curran in the third place match. Miller reminded him from the coach’s corner to make sure he wrestled for the full 30 second overtime periods.
“I put everything out that I had into that match,” Burkhart said. “Afterward I knew that I had every right to be on the third place pedestal.”
Miller knew it too. The Trojans coach saw firsthand the growth Burkhart has made, and that goes well beyond his four years in the wrestling program. After his final match, Miller got to celebrate a win for Fairfield, and a young athlete who embodies its culture and community.
“He's grown up with us,” Miller said. “He's worked with us. He's a homegrown talent. He stayed in our club. He believed in our coaching staff, and it just shows how much hard work and determination that kid has put into it. It's been amazing and beautiful to watch.”
