Ackerman’s Win Ranked #1
Nick Ackerman’s win over Nick Slack in the 2001 NCAA 174 lb. final was named the #1 dramatic finish in the last 25 years of NCAA competition by NCAA Champion Magazine. Ackerman, from Simpson College, won an action packed match and withstood Slack’s furious comeback that came up one takedown short, leaving the final score 13-11. Ackerman went on to be named a co-winner of the 2001 Hodge Trophy, sharing it with Cael Sanderson.