NE10 40th Anniversary Home Page
It is safe to say that Brandon Birchak is among the mostly uniquely talented student-athletes to ever represent The College of Saint Rose, and arguably the Northeast-10 Conference.
He is an accomplished juggler who has juggled fire, while riding a unicycle, while blindfolded. He has performed as a high risk acrobat in 50 countries throughout Europe and Asia, including with Franco Dragone and most recently with Cirque de Soleil as a cast member in its Las Vegas production of “O”. For the latter, he performed two shows a night on Russian Swing and completed a 75-foot high dive prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic forced the show to be temporarily suspended.
Birchak previously set a world record in gymnastics or circus when he completed six somersaults off Russian Swing while performing in China. He recently had an indoor water tank installed in his home where his training includes holding his breath for five minutes over the course of six cycles.
However, he left his mark at The College of Saint Rose in 2007 when as a junior he became the first student-athlete in school history to capture an NCAA championship by sweeping the one and three-meter diving events in Buffalo. He outscored his nearest competitor by more than 31 points off the one-meter board and outdistanced his closest rival by nearly 72 points at the three-meter height. He was subsequently named the 2007 NCAA Division II Diver of the Year.
Birchak followed that up the following year with a pair of second place finishes at the NCAA Championships on the University of Missouri campus. The winner needed to score the highest point total within the previous eight years to upend Birchak in the one-meter event and in the three meters he finished second by a mere 4.95 points with his score of 498.65 points.
More impressively, he accomplished all this after suffering a broken back in 2005 while a student at Southern Illinois University.
“Brandon was always a pleasure to have around. He enjoyed what he was doing and always had a great attitude. He brought out the best in others and was an incredible teammate to have on our teams. Brandon was a dedicated and devoted student athlete and fierce competitor. He continues that dedication in his new phase of life. He is one of those athletes that has left his mark and will never be forgotten,” said head swimming and diving coach Keith Murray.
Birchak’s accolades offer a glimpse into his impact as a student-athlete. He was a four-time NE10 Champion, four-time NCAA All-American, was twice honored as the NE10 Diver of the Year, and still holds the conference’s one and three-meter diving records. He is a member of both the Saint Rose Athletics and NE10 Halls of Fame.
Brandon Birchak Links of Note:
- Birchak Saint Rose Hall of Fame Bio
- Brichak NE10 Hall of Fame Bio
- 2007 Times Union Article about National Championship
ABOUT THE NE10
Beginning its 40th anniversary season, the NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
