March 17, 2009
Redshirt sophomore wrestler Bryan Deutsch took some time away from his classes and his training for the upcoming NCAA Championships to talk with NIUHuskies.com about rodeo clowns, Sir Edmund Hillary, and the first time he dreamed about wrestling at nationals.
NIUHuskies.com: What's something about you very few people know?
Bryan Deutsch: When I was a kid, I would dress up like a rodeo cowboy clown almost every day. I'd have my face painted and walk around with a rainbow afro with cowboy stuff on. It was early, when I was four or five.
NIU: What's your biggest fear?
BD: My biggest fear, as far as physical fear, would be of heights. I'm petrified of heights. My biggest fear, as far as a social fear, is probably the fear of disappointing people.
NIU: When did you first dream of making it to nationals?
BD: I remember when I was a little kid, my dad and his friend would go to nationals and watch. He'd come back with crazy stories about how much fun it was, and I remember I had already started wrestling. I just hoped that some day I could go down there and wrestle and have my dad come watch me. Actually, he and that same friend are coming down to watch me.
NIU: How did you get started wrestling?
BD: When I was little, my dad would go to my high school and roll around with the guys. He wrestled in college with coach Grant, he was his wrestling partner for a year, so he was pretty good. My earliest memories are going into the high school and rolling around with him.
NIU: What's the best advice you've gotten from Coach Grant?
BD: Coach Grant told me shooting a high-crotch is like riding a horse, shooting a bow-and-arrow, and aiming at a duck all at the same time. That probably meant more to me than most. Just the image of Coach Grant riding a horse sideways, shooting a duck with a bow-and-arrow stuck with me.
NIU: Who's your hero?
BD: My hero has always been Sir Edmund Hillary. He was the first one to climb Mt. Everest. When he died this year, under his name, for his occupation, it said "Adventurer." That's the coolest thing.
NIU: Are you an adventurer?
BD: Trying to be. Aspiring. I'm an aspiring adventurer.
NIU: What's the most annoying habit you have?
BD: I'm pretty dirty. Dirty Deutsch. My room is dirty, my locker is dirty, I wrestle dirty.
NIU: What's the best part of being a division I athlete?
BD: The feeling of accomplishment.
NIU: What's your favorite TV show?
BD: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
NIU: Who would you like to meet from history?
BD: Blackbeard... no... probably Crazy Horse, because he seemed like a decent leader, but he seemed like an awesome guy.
NIU: Who would play you in a movie?
BD: Josh Hartnett
NIU: What's your biggest athletic accomplishment?
BD: It's a tie. My junior year in high school, I was the first person in my high school to ever make it the state finals. The other is when I pole-vaulted 12-6.
NIU: What are your hobbies outside of wrestling?
BD: I play a lot of Frisbee Golf. There's a course called, wait, it's a secret location.
NIU: Bryan, thanks for your time.
