In March, Akeem Carter, a wrestling student-athlete at Wartburg College, collected a 5-0 victory over Delaware Valley College's Jamall Johnson to earn his second consecutive NCAA Division III national championship at 197 pounds.

While the speed, strength and skill of today's student-athletes have made winning back-to-back titles less rare, Carter's second title in as many years is especially unique. He dedicated this one to his older brother, Kenyatta Carter, who is completing a repeat performance of his own as a soldier in the U.S. Army on his second tour of duty in Iraq.

Akeem's gesture is all the more meaningful considering it was Kenyatta who nudged him into wrestling in high school. Thanks to their father's influence, the brothers competed in a variety of sports growing up, including basketball, track and football. Both demonstrated an aptitude for wrestling, too; however, the younger Carter had planned to try out for basketball once he hit high school.

"Kenyatta basically told me that if I go out for basketball, I was going to get a brotherly beating from him. I wanted to avoid the fight. I just decided to go into wrestling," Akeem said.

It was a wise move.

Kenyatta, a junior when Akeem entered high school, tutored his brother in wrestling techniques and styles. Both brothers flourished. As a senior, Kenyatta captured a state title and Akeem, who placed third as a sophomore, went on to collect two state and one national high-school championship. The older Carter went on to wrestle at Iowa Central Community College at 174 pounds for two years, and the brothers began making plans to train for the U.S. National Team and the Olympics.

But military action in Iraq altered that. Last year, Kenyatta, stationed with the Army's HHC 3rd Brigade in Fort Riley, Kansas, spent from May to November overseas. His second tour of duty in Iraq began February 2, 2005.

Meanwhile, Akeem's wrestling career continued to blossom. He built on the techniques and skills he'd learned from his brother, carving out his own style.

"Kenyatta has a tendency sometimes to be overconfident. I took it in my mind that I would never trick myself into believing I have the match," said Akeem. "But I loved his intensity. I loved the fact that he stated he was always going to win something even though he didn't."

Even in the midst of fulfilling his military service, Kenyatta has continued to be a presence. He had a chance to see his little brother wrestle during a meet at Luther College.

Perhaps more importantly, the elder Carter hasn't confined his encouragement to his younger sibling. The soldier also spoke to the Wartburg wrestling squad, reminding student-athletes not to take their opportunity to compete for granted.

By his own admission, Akeem didn't enter the season setting out to defend his title, choosing instead to focus simply on winning matches. But after the victory, Akeem said he went into the March 5 championship match with three purposes: to glorify God, to send word to his brother that he was a national champion again and to represent Wartburg.

In dedicating the win to his older brother, Akeem said he wanted to come from the heart.

"It was more a sense of pride to show him that his little brother is still doing his thing and still thinking about him," he said.

Akeem isn't sure his brother, who keeps in touch through their mother, has received news of his repeat championship performance just yet. But one thing for sure is that Akeem has the chance to make his older brother even prouder.

Akeem closed out the season with a 30-2 record. He became just the fifth Wartburg wrestler to pin down two Division III championships and, with his senior season on the horizon, he has a chance to become the school's first three-time champ. Beyond that, however, Akeem is leaving his options open.

"I've had a couple of visions of wrestling at the Olympic Training Center, but I don't know if I'm going to proceed in that area or not," said Akeem.

So, no one should be surprised to see the younger Carter once again following in his brother's footsteps by serving his country one day as a member of the U.S. National Team.

But that's a decision he'll grapple with later. For now, he's focused on putting the finishing touches on his wrestling career at Wartburg and, beyond, pursuing opportunities in the area of film and broadcast.