'MOUTH' IS DOWN FOR THE COUNT HIGHLAND WRESTLER SHOWS MATURITY BY CHANGING WAYS.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Kyle Burnett admits he's a recovering trash talker.

In the past, Burnett, a junior standout for the Highland High of Palmdale wrestling team in the 112-pound division, was known as much for popping off as for taking opponents down.

But these days, at the prodding of coaches, teachers, parents and even some of his teammates, Burnett is striving to tone down the rhetoric.

``(Former assistant) coach (Rob) Frazier gave me the nickname 'mouth' because I was always talking,'' Burnett said. ``I always had to be loud.''

Eventually, Burnett bought into the idea the sport, for which his coaches recognized he had obvious talent, was a more appropriate forum in which to express himself.

``Coach Frazier would always say 'Do your talking on the mat,' and after two years it finally shows,'' Burnett said.

Burnett believes that his more mature approach has made him a better wrestler.

Burnett, a third-year varsity wrestler, recently won his first Golden League individual title and is 35-4 with 28 pins.

He's 92-32 at Highland and is tied with teammate Jeremiah McGuffee for the school's all-time lead in pins - with 61 - since the CIF instituted a 40-match limit for individuals in 1999.

Burnett played youth football and competes on the Highland baseball team but said wrestling has helped him mature.

``The wrestling mentality is totally different than football or any other sport,'' he said. ``It makes you look at things differently, and it shows you that you need to be humble, too.''

Burnett believes that lessons learned from wrestling also have made him a better person.

``It builds character,'' he said.

It also has made him a better teammate, according to Steve Frehn, who wrestles at 135.

``Because he's gotten more mature he doesn't fool around in practice at much,'' Frehn said. ``He's a lot more serious now. He realizes that if you want to win you've got to be serious and the serious time is practicing time.''

Burnett and his teammates will defend their Southern Section Div. VI title Saturday at the dual meet championships at Charter Oak of Covina. Burnett is among 14 wresters, including eight league individual champions, who will represent Highland at the Southern Section Inland Division championships Feb. 20-21 at Ayala of Chino Hills.

Burnett said his goal for this season is qualifying for Master's and hopes to medal in the State meet next season, if not this year, which he believes would help him get a college scholarship.

His aggressive wrestling style is a big reason his goals are attainable.

``He has one thing in mind when he wrestles, it's to attack,'' Highland coach Mike Young said. ``Sometimes the best offense is a good defense, and he goes right after the kids.''

Gideon Rubin [phone]

gideon.rubin(at)dailynews.com

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Highland's Kyle Burnett has stopped trash talking and has flourished with a 35-4 record.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer