What stands out to Brewer has been Burke's disinterest in specialization, despite her potential to be one of the nation's best if she had focused solely on either soccer or track. As a junior for the Medina soccer team two years ago, Burke led the Bees to a 21-1-2 finish as she posted 12 consecutive shutouts to close the season. That season, Medina gave up just six goals.
Last fall, Burke led the Bees to a 13-3-3 finish. She shut out her first three opponents before finally allowing a goal during a 2-1 victory over eventual state runner-up Pickerington North on Sept. 4. Medina went on to lose in a district semifinal, but Burke was honored as Ms. Soccer by the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association as she posted 13 shutouts.
Burke helped the Medina girls basketball team finish with an 18-4 record this winter and that included a run to a district semifinal.
And how has she managed to keep her schedule balanced?
Burke admits that it's a day-to-day activity that involves sitting down monthly — and sometimes weekly — with her mother, Julie, and logging her activities into her phone. If two of her sports have an event being held simultaneously, she usually participates in the sport of that particular season.
After missing the first day of her club soccer team's tournament April 15 because of the track meet in Mansfield, Burke rejoined her soccer team the next day.
"One of the things I think is impressive is that she's a multi-sport athlete," Brewer said. "She's used to the pressure of being a goalie and shooting a big free throw at the end of a game. She hates to lose and she's an intense competitor, but she's the type of kid that's real calm. What makes her truly unique is all of the specialization and that she just really has gone 180 degrees the other way."
Being busy with sports has come naturally for Burke after watching her sister, Lauren, play soccer for three years at Ohio University. She inherited her skill for high-jumping from her mother, who competed in the event when she was in high school.
"I'm kind of used to it," Burke said. "I think I just have a knack for balancing academics and sports. I don't like to sit, and everything I do keeps me busy. It's always exciting."
For Burke, that will be more true than ever before if she finally sees that "6" pop up after one of her jumps this spring.
Jarrod Ulrey covers Central and Northern Ohio for MaxPreps.com. He has covered prep sports for ThisWeekSPORTS.com
for 16 years and can be reached at julrey@thisweeknews.com.
