Failure is not an answer for some people.

The same can be said for redshirt sophomore wrestler Tristen DeShazer.

This season could not have become what it is without DeShazer’s desire to turn his wrestling career around.

In high school, DeShazer was the best. From 2002 to 2006 with a record of 147-3 and 89 pins, he won the Kansas state tournament all four years.

Everything changed for the Wichita native as he entered his life in DeKalb. In his first two years as a Huskie, DeShazer only put out a 15-14 record with six pins.

“Last year, I was getting beat by a lot of people that I know I could beat, but I was just so much out of shape,” DeShazer said. “Last year was what made me motivated for this year.”

In an effort to turn things around, DeShazer decided to move from the 141-class to the 133-pound class this season.

“I wasn’t winning as much, and it messed with me psychologically last year,” he said. “I was just going through the motions and not really giving it my all. That’s what made me hungrier. I went down a weight because I was not used to losing at all.”

The weight loss that could be seen as difficult for some came with ease for DeShazer.

“More weight gradually started coming off,” DeShazer said. “My body got used to the different weight so it was hard to gain weight back. It wasn’t that hard.”

According to DeShazer, he wasn’t into wrestling as much in his first year at NIU. He believes that he was in pretty bad shape last year, but he has turned it around for the better.

DeShazer started working harder in practice and taking it more serious this year. He says he can see himself progressing as each week goes by.

This season, DeShazer has posted an 18-7 record with 14 pins and has even had a short stint on the top 20 in early 2009.

But DeShazer doesn’t just have his sights on becoming a better wrestler; he wants to become the best.

“I’m not content with just being a national qualifier,” DeShazer said. “I would like to become an All-American.”