In exactly one week, the top 330 wrestlers in Division I, and four from NIU, will descend on St. Louis for a chance to win an NCAA championship.

And in his first trip to the national stage, NIU sophomore Mike Grimes will once again try to prove he belongs.

As a prep wrestler at Montini High, the 149-pound Villa Park native was a two-time state champion and was looking forward to receiving a possible scholarship. But in the fall of 2002, he found himself at NIU battling for a spot on the team as a walk-on.

“I got overlooked by a lot of schools and didn’t get many offers,” Grimes said. “So that gave me motivation. I had a chip on my shoulder and I had something to prove.”

After a freshman season that he admitted was a “party year,” Grimes recommitted himself over the next summer and set a series of goals. First on his list was a spot in the starting lineup.

NIU coach Dave Grant soon took notice of the change in work ethic and determination in Grimes.

“We encourage all walk-ons because you know they’re doing it for the love of the sport and not for money,” Grant said. “The bottom line is commitment. Last year, he got serious and laid it out.”

To prove he deserved a starting lineup spot, Grimes had to win a series of matches in the practice room with other Huskie grapplers. His aggressive attacking style paid dividends, and Grimes went into the Nov. 4 preseason team wrestle-off challenging for the 149-pound spot against NCAA-qualifier Josh Wooton.

An escape-to-takedown by Grimes in the second overtime period gave him the 10-9 victory and placed him as the front-runner for the starting position.

After Wooton returned to his previous 141-pound weight class for a better shot at earning all-American status, Grimes was plugged into the starting lineup. But the fiery competitiveness between the two wrestlers did not lose any of its energy.

“When we face off, we would fight and brawl,” Grimes said. “Outside the practice room, it’s totally different, but in there it’s competition. The worst thing is to give up a takedown to him, and he feels the same way. When we face off, it’s life or death out there.”

Over the course of the season, Grimes ran his record to 16-10 and was seeded fourth going into last weekend’s MAC championships. Despite facing three opponents who had previously beaten him during the season, the NIU sophomore went 4-1, garnering a second-place finish and berth in the NCAA championships.

“I’ve been impressed with him this year,” senior co-captain Sam Hiatt said. “You could tell he picked up his work ethic. Everyone’s pretty excited for nationals and especially Mike since this is his first time and he really worked to get here.”

Fellow teammates who are also making the trip to St. Louis will be all-MAC performers Johnny Galloway, Hiatt and Wooton. Hiatt came within one victory of achieving all-American status last year and Grant said he likes his team’s chances at taking the extra step this year.

“You could say they’re peaking at the right time,” Grant said. “They’re healthy and in great shape. I expect them to set high goals and shoot for the finals. Someone is going to make it, so why not them?”