By Andy Walter

T.J. Burke starts the weekend with a perfect, 31-0 record this winter.

If the Indian River High heavyweight wrestler is still unbeaten by Saturday night, he’ll have accomplished something pretty special.

Burke is trying to become the Indians’ first individual state champion since 2005 — and only the program’s seventh all-time.

But that’s the kind of storyline that makes this weekend’s DIAA Individual Wrestling State Tournament interesting. Hundreds of high school wrestlers will go to Cape Henlopen this weekend hoping that they can accomplish something pretty special.

The two-day tourney opens on Friday with the preliminary round at 5 p.m. and the quarterfinals at about 7 p.m. On Saturday, the semifinals are slated for 11 a.m. with the finals at 7 p.m.

Probably the biggest story is that Smyrna’s Gabe Giampietro (120 pounds) and Caravel’s Alex Poore (160) both can become four-time state champions.

That, however, doesn’t mean that the wrestlers trying to win their first career state crowns aren’t just as determined.

IR’s Burke finished third in the state tournament a year ago. The senior, who’s headed to Lehigh on a football scholarship, in the top seed at 285 after winning the Henlopen Conference title last weekend.

“T.J. has worked extremely hard this season and during the off-season and it is showing in the way he is competing right now,” said Indians coach Jeff Windish. “He is looking forward to this weekend and the opportunity to improve on his third-place finish from last season.”

IR’s last state champions were D.J. Singleterry (215) and Andy Bokinski (160) in ‘05.

Likewise, Lake Forest’s Nurrideen Ahmad-Statts (152) would love to bring home his first state championship. The Spartans’ last state champ was Brian Thomson (170) in 2015.

A sophomore, Ahmad-Statts is the top seed at 152 with a record of 26-7 after taking the Henlopen title.

“That was a huge accomplishment for this young man,” said Lake Forest coach Mike Hansen. “Nurrideen was a DWA Academic all-state award winner last year and will be again this year. I am extremely proud of him and can see him achieving all his goals on and off the mat.”

Four-timers club

Smyrna’s Giampietro doesn’t like to get ahead of himself.

So when he was a freshman, the last thing he was thinking about was trying to win four state crowns.

“My mind was mainly on getting that first state title and first conference title when I was a freshman,” Giampietro said after winning his fourth Henlopen crown last Saturday.

“I never like to look too far ahead. I always took it step by step. Freshman year, I was looking forward to that one title. Sophomore year it was the same thing — I was just looking for the title for that year.”

In Delaware’s high school wrestling history, which dates to 1957, only 10 wrestlers have won four state championships.

The only wrestler in Smyrna’s proud wrestling history to accomplish the feat was Brent Fleetwood (2011-14). Giampietro, who will continue his career at Drexel, is 29-4 this season.

“It’s a great opportunity,” said Smyrna coach Aaron Harris. “But ever since he set foot on the mat here — nothing is guaranteed — but we knew we’d be at this moment, waiting for him to win his fourth state title.

“He’s getting ready to be in a prestigious group and we’re very proud of him.”

Notes

Milford’s Jack Thode, the top seed at 132, is trying to become only the second wrestler to win three state titles as a Buccaneer. The only other one was Skip Jones (1960-62). ... Caesar Rodney has the most all-time state champions with 102 followed by St. Mark’s (91), William Penn (71), Smyrna (61) and Sussex Central/Georgetown (52). ... Six of the last nine Outstanding Wrestler award winners in the state tourney have been from Smyrna. ... The Henlopen Conference had seven state champions last year. The league has eight top seeds this weekend. ... Sussex Central’s Malachi Stratton (106) and Caravel’s Eddie Radecki (113) are the only freshmen who are No. 1 seeds this year.

Follow Andy Walter on Twitter at @DSNSports.