Kyle Burwick’s hopes of wrestling this season at Nebraska apparently now rest in the hands of his former school. 

The Wisconsin transfer’s appeal for immediate eligibility with the Huskers was denied by the NCAA, leaving the two-time NCAA qualifier one last avenue to compete this season, according to a Nebraska athletic department official.  

“At this point in the process, the only thing that could be done to allow Kyle to compete would be for Wisconsin to agree to a no participation opportunity waiver,” Nebraska executive AD for compliance Jamie Vaughn said. “That’s the only thing left for him now. We’ve exhausted the other possibilities with the NCAA’s waiver processes.” 

The NCAA’s no participation opportunity form is one pathway for transfers in good academic and athletic standing to gain immediate eligibility at a new school with the blessing from the athlete’s previous school. 

Burwick’s past and present schools wound up in the center of a transfer dispute this summer after the five-time North Dakota state high school champion left Wisconsin for Nebraska in June. His departure came shortly after the Badgers added another 133-pounder —  Utah Valley All-American Taylor LaMont — on May 24 and roughly six weeks after the NCAA’s new May 1 deadline to enter the transfer portal and change schools without losing a year of eligibility. 

Burwick claimed he was never informed by Wisconsin officials about the transfer portal deadline. His initial request for immediate eligibility was denied by the NCAA on Oct. 7 and his case gained publicity with a Nov. 1 Twitter post that outlined his case. 

The following evening, Wisconsin’s athletic department issued a statement claiming that “Wisconsin Athletics supports current Nebraska student-athlete Kyle Burwick’s desire to continue his collegiate wrestling career with immediate eligibility. The UW Athletics compliance staff and administration worked with Nebraska over the past several months to help facilitate Kyle’s ability to participate. The decision to grant Kyle his eligibility for this season is in the hands of the NCAA.” 

“That statement they put out was the biggest fraud I’ve ever seen,” Nebraska coach Mark Manning said. “It said they’ve worked with Nebraska for the past (several) months. They told my athletic director, Trev Alberts, and two other associate ADs ‘No.’ That’s not working with them, that’s us begging them to do the right thing. They’re basically taking a year of eligibility away from (Burwick).” 

Nebraska officials claim that Wisconsin has offered more resistance than support in Burwick’s case. They question why the Badgers won’t sign off on the waiver that would assure his immediate eligibility. 

“We’re perplexed,” Manning said. “We’re super surprised why, in this day and age when thousands of student-athletes enter the portal, why would you not release Kyle Burwick? Why would you (cost) him a year of eligibility when you admit you didn’t educate the student-athletes of the May 1 transfer portal (deadline)? You never told Kyle Burwick, ‘Hey, Kyle, we’re recruiting Taylor LaMont. If you want to enter the portal, you’ve got to get in by May 1.’

“You already made your choice in your recruiting. You wanted Taylor LaMont. Everyone knows that. Kyle Burwick knows that. He’s very honest with himself. He understands, ‘Hey, they went another way. They didn’t believe in me, so I’m going to go somewhere they do believe in me.’ Why are you punishing him?” 

Flowrestling reached out to Wisconsin officials for comment. The school’s athletic department responded with another statement on Dec. 2: “We reiterate our support for Kyle’s opportunity to compete and be immediately eligible. We have submitted the necessary paperwork, have cooperated with Nebraska and the NCAA and will have no further comment on the matter.” 

Wisconsin coach Chris Bono and Nebraska assistant Bryan Snyder weighed in Tuesday in a Twitter discussion about the NCAA's no participation opportunity waiver legislation. 

it decided during its October and November meetings that the no participation opportunity (NPO) guideline no longer be available for undergraduate transfer student-athletes who do not qualify for an exception to the transfer year of residence requirement. https://t.co/6D40q3bTRS

— Chris Bono (@ChrisBono) December 15, 2022

I saw it. Here is the full email. If I read it correctly, the new legislation does not apply to student athletes who have already transferred. If this is the case, an institution can sign an NPO and the student athlete would be immediately eligible. @UWBadgers https://t.co/HCt9hPmM8u pic.twitter.com/6FJpdKjPu1

— Bryan Snyder (@Bryan__Snyder) December 15, 2022

Burwick compiled a 21-23 record the past two seasons with the Badgers. He placed fifth at the Big Ten Championships last March to secure a spot at the NCAA Championships and was an Academic All-Big Ten and NWCA Scholar All-American selection in 2021. 

Burwick has posted a 10-0 record this year while competing unattached at open tournaments. 

Dylan Guenther contributed to this story.