PROVO -- BYU middle blocker Michael Burke was named to the 2005 National Strength and Conditioning Association All-America Team for his impressive physical strength and athletic ability.
Each year the National Strength and Conditioning Association honors athletes for their dedication to and performance in strength and conditioning training, academic and personal accomplishments, athletic contributions, integrity and leadership as student-athletes. BYU strength and conditioning coach Corey Anderson nominated Burke.
"Mike is one of the strongest volleyball players I have ever worked with," Anderson said. "He is definitely the 'big man on the court.'"
Burke, a senior, is in his third season as a starting middle blocker for the Cougars. In 2003 he helped BYU finish second in the nation and in 2004 was an integral part of the Cougar's national championship run.
"Mike Burke is one of the best middle blockers BYU has produced and that means a lot," BYU coach Tom Peterson said. "Offensively he is the best player in the country. He is an awesome physical specimen judging by his strength and the number of girls that come and watch him play."
Burke, who stands 6 feet 8 inches and weighs 230 pounds, has physical and athletic abilities that speak for themselves. He registers a 400-pound squat, a 340-pound bench press and a 265-pound power clean. Burke also has an impressive vertical leap that measures 38.5 inches.
On the court he leads BYU and is among the national leaders in hitting percentage at .486 and blocks per game with an average of 1.21. He is one of the most feared middle blockers in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and in NCAA volleyball.
This is not the first award Burke has earned in his career. In 2004 he was named All-MPSF Honorable Mention and in 2003 was an All-MPSF Third Team member and an All-MPSF Academic selection.