When most think of the archetypal professional wrestler, ‘teacher’ isn’t what comes to mind, but Bowling Green High School teacher Seth Burchett manages to balance the two.
Growing up in Eastern Kentucky with access to only 5 channels, he fell in love with wrestling at a young age. Burchett would practice wrestling moves on the couch and looked up to wrestlers such as Sting and Dusty Rhodes. Since Burchett grew up without his father, these larger-than-life TV celebrities acted as the central male role models in his life, shaping his interests and passions. Burchett said, “They instilled morals that I carry with me to this day.”
For the past 10 years, Burchett has wrestled under the name Seth Leduc, who he portrays as a big, American-hating Canadian man. His signature move in the ring is the Leduc Buster, a replication of a move Burchett watched as a child pinned with his wrestling name. He participates in events around the state aiming for entertainment all ages can enjoy. Burchett says “I love to put on an entertaining show for everyone that comes out.”
Outside of the ring, Burchett must achieve a delicate balance between teaching and wrestling. Since Burchett is a teacher first and a wrestler second, this gives him a chance to encourage his students to follow their desires in life. When asked if he preferred teaching or wrestling, Burchett said, “Teaching allows me to have a bigger impact on people than I could have with wrestling.”
Burchett had hopes of someday obtaining a job at WWE but found his true calling in the classroom. He loves being able to have one-on-one impacts on his students rather than entertaining the masses. Being a wrestler allows Burchett to show his students that anything they desire to do is realistic and give them the inspiration they may need to pursue their life goals.
Growing up in Eastern Kentucky with access to only 5 channels, he fell in love with wrestling at a young age. Burchett would practice wrestling moves on the couch and looked up to wrestlers such as Sting and Dusty Rhodes. Since Burchett grew up without his father, these larger-than-life TV celebrities acted as the central male role models in his life, shaping his interests and passions. Burchett said, “They instilled morals that I carry with me to this day.”
For the past 10 years, Burchett has wrestled under the name Seth Leduc, who he portrays as a big, American-hating Canadian man. His signature move in the ring is the Leduc Buster, a replication of a move Burchett watched as a child pinned with his wrestling name. He participates in events around the state aiming for entertainment all ages can enjoy. Burchett says “I love to put on an entertaining show for everyone that comes out.”
Outside of the ring, Burchett must achieve a delicate balance between teaching and wrestling. Since Burchett is a teacher first and a wrestler second, this gives him a chance to encourage his students to follow their desires in life. When asked if he preferred teaching or wrestling, Burchett said, “Teaching allows me to have a bigger impact on people than I could have with wrestling.”
Burchett had hopes of someday obtaining a job at WWE but found his true calling in the classroom. He loves being able to have one-on-one impacts on his students rather than entertaining the masses. Being a wrestler allows Burchett to show his students that anything they desire to do is realistic and give them the inspiration they may need to pursue their life goals.
By Ethan Klein