NIU wrestler Brad Dieckhaus may come in at No. 3 on the Northern Star’s top 10 ’11-’12 athletes, but if there was a list for NIU’s most inspiring athletes, he would grace the top spot.

Dieckhaus missed the beginning of his senior season after a knee surgery, missed the middle of the season with two torn ligaments in his ankle and suffered a completely torn ACL in the MAC Championships.

Despite his body’s unwilling aid, Dieckhaus’ willpower guided him to excellence and into the NIU record books as he finished the year with an undefeated regular season record of 11-0. He was one of only five Division I wrestlers to end the regular season undefeated.

Dieckhaus became the first Huskie since 1965 to accomplish that feat. NIU’s Most Valuable Wrestler said he grappled with “practically all heart and no body” on his way to perfection.

“I wasn’t aware of how long it had been at all,” Dieckhaus said. “Actually, I didn’t even think about that. My mind was set on March down in St. Louis and that’s all I could think about and visualize at that time.”

Although he came up narrowly short in his chance to defend the MAC title at 184 because of his torn ACL, Dieckhaus qualified for the NCAA Championships for the second straight year.

Even at the risk of further damaging his battered leg, Dieckhaus showed his heart and determination by competing at the national tournament, which was in his hometown of St. Louis.

“There was discussion about a medical redshirt at some point during the season,” Dieckhaus said. “I wish I maybe would have utilized that option. If it wasn’t my senior year, I might not have competed, but it’s the nature of the beast. You’ve got one shot to do it and I felt as though I had all the tools to go through with it.”