Northern State promotes Zeke Andrade to associate head wrestling coach

Northern State University head wrestling coach Rocky Burkett announced today the promotion of Zeke Andrade to associate head coach. Andrade enters his fifth season with the Wolves in 2023-24.
 
“Zeke has played an important role in our success since 2019-20,” explained Burkett. “His knowledge of the sport of wrestling and ability to communicate with our student-athletes on and off the mat is crucial to our staff and program. I value his input and ability to take on the responsibilities needed to be successful at this level. Zeke is more than deserving of this promotion.”
 
In his four seasons on staff, Northern has qualified eight for the NCAA National Championships with Cole Huss and Wyatt Turnquist earning All-American accolades. In addition, seven student-athletes have landed on the NSIC All-Conference teams and numerous have held NWCA national rankings. The Wolves have also seen success in the classroom, with 38 student-athletes honored by the NWCA as Scholar All-Americans.
 
“First and foremost, I am grateful to Director of Athletics Nate Davis, and our leader and head coach, Rocky Burkett, for entrusting me further with this program,” noted Andrade. “Thank you both for your tremendous leadership and guidance. My title may change, but my aspirations for this program remain. Northern State wrestling is doing special things and I couldn’t be more excited to continue to make the climb. Go Wolves!”
 
Andrade has played a vital role in developing the successful Northern State summer wrestling camps, as well as the Wolves Wrestling Club and Northern State Alpha Pack.
 
The Wolves tallied back-to-back top-25 finishes nationally in 2022 and 2023 and placed top-4 at the 2022 NCAA Super Region V Tournament.  Northern won their first NSIC Championship since 2002, going a perfect 5-0 in league action in the shortened 2021 season.
 
He competed collegiately for South Dakota State University at 125, 141, and 149-pounds from 2013-18. A 3-year starter for the Jacks, Andrade earned Western Wrestling Conference wrestler of the week honors in 2014. Andrade was a member of the 2018 squad that finished the year ranked 12th in the nation, and was named to the Big 12 All-Academic first team.
 
The Sacramento, California native is a 2018 graduate of South Dakota State University with a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. In addition, Andrade earned a masters degree in Education from Dakota Wesleyan University in 2020.
 
Andrade resides in Aberdeen with his wife Angela and son, Clayton.