The script was almost beyond belief.

First, the star athlete suffers an injury and starts his senior year of football on the shelf, watching, waiting and cheering on his teammates.

When he does return, he runs rampant, putting up video game-like numbers and leading his team to the state championship game. Although his team loses, he sets the title game rushing record for that class.

Then, in wrestling, after back-to-back runner-up finishes at state, he bowls through his weight class with only one match that went the distance, finishing with a perfect record after pinning his opponent in 1:53 for the championship.

In his entire senior year, he lost once in competition.

Once.

Richmond-Burton graduate Jack Dechow was a Northwest Herald All-Area first-team selection in football and wrestling. He was considered for Player of the Year honors in both those sports, but now he goes one better.

For his near-perfect year, Dechow is the Northwest Herald Male Athlete of the Year, voted on by the sports staff with nominations from area athletic directors. Only seniors are eligible for the honor. Richmond-Burton will receive a donation of $2,500 from the Rochell Foundation in Dechow's honor. Dr. Steven Rochell, a Crystal Lake orthopedic surgeon, has given that amount to the athletic departments of the respective female and male winners since 1993.

Read the full article on Dechow's honor by Stevenson here.