When Bryan Deutsch first came to DeKalb to wrestle for head coach Dave Grant, he was more than just nervous to be part of the rising program; he was intimidated.

Now a senior, Deutsch has solidified himself as a dominant piece of NIU wrestling.

This is Deutsch’s final season that he will be able to represent NIU on the mats. After five years here, it will be a tough privilege to give up. He grew up in this sport and has been wrestling since before Justin Bieber was born, so leaving the mat will be difficult.

But Deutsch does not think extensively about his future just yet. With his career coming to a close, Deutsch has big competition coming up, including the MAC and NCAA Championships. Friday will also be senior night for the wrestlers, and will be their final home meet of the regular season.

“It will be cool to be out there,” Deutsch said. “I remember thinking during my freshman year watching on senior night, thinking how I could ever make it that long in college.”

Five years after first coming to NIU, Deutsch still wonders how he made it this far.

“I can’t believe it has been almost five years now. I have had so much fun here over the years,” Deutsch said. “I have definitely improved as a wrestler and I’d hope I improved as a person. I hope I am not a worse person.”

Deutsch has his options open, however. A fan of comedy, Deutsch considers it a possible career path for himself after wrestling.

But in any case, being part of the family business is an option; his father was a wrestling coach at the high school level.

“I’d like to stay involved in wrestling,” Deutsch said. “Wrestling has provided various outlets to me and I want to give back a bit, too.

“I might come back as a coach. I wouldn’t be a head coach anytime soon because I don’t think I have the culture or maturity for that yet.”

Other than becoming a coach, Deutsch has done some thinking about what he can do with his history major.

“I will probably either go into teaching or something that my education here at Northern has made me more qualified than the average person to do,” Deutsch said. “I am not sure what that means, so I’ll probably just join the government.”

It is uncertain as to whether Deutsch will or will not go into teaching, coaching, or a government job. But one thing that is certain about Deutsch is that wrestling takes priority and winning the MAC Championship at 157 pounds is more important than his career plans.