When Simpson College graduate Nick Ackerman won the NCAA Division III wrestling championships in 2001, it was a moment he’ll never forget. Now that moment has been named one of the 25 defining moments of the past 100 years by the NCAA.

“When I heard, I didn’t know if they got it right,” said Ackerman. “Of all the huge steps, of all the colleges, it didn’t seem right.”

But Ackerman, who lost his legs below the knees to bacterial meningitis as a baby, said it’s rather incredible to know his win was selected for the list.

“It’s an amazing deal. I never expected it,” he said.

Ackerman, a native of Colfax, defeated Nick Slack of Augsburg College, who at the time was the defending national champion and had won 60 matches in a row.

“It was kind of surreal,” he said. “It was an on-top-of-the-world feeling.”

Although Ackerman grew up without his full legs, it didn’t stop him from remaining active in sports, both at Colfax-Mingo schools and for all four years of Simpson.

“He was a great kid to coach. He was coachable and a hard worker,” said Ron Peterson, Ackerman’s coach at Simpson. “But above all that, he had a great personality and approach to life.”

Peterson said Ackerman came into his office his first day at Simpson announcing he’d be a national champion, and although Peterson had his doubts about that, he continued coaching and encouraging him.

“The hard work that he put in, it’s a great tribute to Nick,” said Peterson.

In addition to his 2001 win, Ackerman was named outstanding wrestler that year. He was also co-winner of the Hodge Award, which is emblematic of college wrestling’s MVP, with Iowa State University’s Cael Sanderson.

Because of his love of the outdoors, Ackerman studied environmental science at Simpson.

“I never wanted to sit in an office,” he said.

But after his nationals win, Ackerman received a call from a young man who had just lost his legs and had read about Ackerman in USA Today. Ackerman said the two talked for a long time, giving the discouraged young man encouragement and hope for the future.

“That phone call changed my life,” said Ackerman.

Two months before he was set to graduate with a degree in environmental science, Ackerman decided he wanted to help make the lives of amputees better. He called American Prosthetics and Orthotics, the company that had made his legs for 20 years, and asked for a job. He is currently a licensed prosthetist and works in the company’s Dubuque location where he now lives.

Ackerman still loves the outdoors and spends his weekends doing outdoor activities. He’s also still active in sports, despite gaining 30 pounds since his nationals win. He works out two or three times a week, and wrestles and practices jiu-jitsu, like that used in the Ultimate Fighting Championships, at the Pat Miletich Camp in the Quad Cities.

The NCAA’s 25 Defining Moments is part of the organization’s centennial celebration and is designed to call attention to benchmarks in NCAA history that have helped make the organization what it is today. ESPN will air the 25 moments as 30-second vignettes during programming throughout the year.

 

Written by Emily A. Roush

Emily A. Roush is the news services manager/public relations specialist for Simpson College.