Wrestling Away A Disadvantage

Adapted from a story written by Matthew F. Turk, Simpson College Sports Information Director

From the outside, Nick Ackerman's 13-11 victory over Nick Slack in the 174 pound National Championship match Mar. 3, 2001 was impressive. After all, Slack was ranked #1 in the country, won 60 matches in a row going into the championship match, and was the defending National Champion. The truly impressive part is that Nick wrestled with a major disadvantage. The disadvantage being he lost both of his legs below his knees when he was 1 ½ years old. He was forced to have his legs amputated to halt a life-threatening form of bacterial meningitis.

As a reward for his National Championship, Nick was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the 2001 NCAA Division III Championships. The crowd of just over 3,000 gave Ackerman a two-minute standing ovation for his victory. The first person he found in the crowd was his mother Cindy, who he brought to the mat, hugged her, and then took her down to the mat in celebration. Needless to say, Ackerman was excited about his victory.

"It's awesome," Ackerman said as he was being mobbed by well-wishers. "My coaches told me how great it is, that it's the biggest day of your life." "This is pretty spectacular right now," he said. "I knew I had it in me. This has been my goal all year. This is as close to the best day in my life ever."

Like most kids in his hometown of Colfax, Nick participated in several sports including football, track, soccer and swimming. However, it's the sport of wrestling in which he has excelled. He took up the sport in the third grade. Despite the doubters, Nick earned a spot on his Colfax-Mingo High School varsity team where he compiled a 71-38 record. He capped a 32-8 senior season by placing sixth in the 152-pound weight class in the Class 1A state tournament. He earned the spot despite fracturing his wrist in a first round victory over the previously undefeated and #1 ranked wrestler in that weight class. His first round victory was named by WHO-TV as one of its top 13 stories of 1997. Even the legendary Iowa coach Dan Gable was so impressed by his performance that he approached Ackerman seeking an autograph. "He's really a great kid," Gable said after meeting Nick. "I enjoy watching him wrestle."

Following his sophomore year at Simpson College, Nick was awarded the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Medal of Courage. The Medal of Courage is awarded to a wrestler who has overcome insurmountable challenges. As a junior, Nick alternated between 174 and 184 pounds and began to face some of the toughest competition in all of NCAA wrestling. He was matched up with the undefeated Cael Sanderson of Iowa State at the Simpson Duals. Sanderson defeated Ackerman via technical fall (17-2), but both Sanderson and his coach Bobby Douglas came away with respect for the Simpson Storm wrestler. "He defiantly shows a lot of heart and courage by wrestling and being as good as he is, he is amazing," Sanderson said in an interview with WHO-TV about Ackerman, shortly after their 2000 match. "He is a remarkable individual, to be able to compete the way he has," Douglas said later in an interview with WHO-TV.

After his senior year Nick, along with Cael Sanderson of Iowa State, was awarded the Hodge Trophy, the Heisman Trophy of College Wrestling. One of the first quotes he had during the post-match press conference should serve as the final impression of the man, Nick Ackerman and what he has overcome. "Don't call me disabled, call me a National Champion."

In May 2001 Nick received a Bachelor's Degree Environmental Science and is currently working for a prosthetics company in Davenport, Iowa. He was recently accepted to attend prosthetics school.