Pictured: Northwestern three-time All-American Ryan Deakin. Image courtesy of Northwestern Athletics.
With much of the wrestling ecosystem focused on the various international forms of the sport currently underway across the country, we have big college wrestling news to share: Ryan Deakin is wrestling for Northwestern in 2022.
Tuesday afternoon, July 20, fresh off a 70 kg title at the 2021 World Team Trials Last Chance Qualifier in Fargo, the three-time Northwestern All-American tweeted that his college career with the Wildcats wasn't over.
https://twitter.com/theopenmat/status/1417509119582478336
In Fargo last week, Deakin, a former Junior World medalist and U.S. Open runner-up breezed through the tournament to qualify for the 2021 World Team Trials, out-scoring his competition 30-0. He defeated former West Virginia wrestler Christian Monserrat in the finals.
In 2021, Deakin claimed the conference crown at 157 ponds and took an unblemished record to NCAAs in St. Louis as the top-seeded 157-pounder in the land. In the Show-Me State, Deakin battled back in wrestlebacks to secure his third-straight All-American honor and the highest national finish of his career (3rd).
Deakin did not allow a single point in two matches on Saturday, the tournament's final day, defeating the No. 6 seed Brayton Lee (Minnesota) by an 8-0 major decision before grinding out a 1-0 decision over Arizona State's Jacori Teemer in the third-place match. With the bronze, Deakin becomes the ninth wrestler in Northwestern history to earn three-or-more All-American accolades and the first 157-pounder wrestler since Jason Welch (2011-13).
While Northwestern will face an uphill battle in college wrestling's toughest conference, Matt Storniolo and company have to be happy with the program's direction.
Heading into 2022, Northwestern wrestling is coming off a COVID-influenced 2021 campaign that saw NU record a Top-Ten national finish, the program's best finish under head coach Matt Storniolo. Plus, the Purple and White return a trio of 2021 NCAA All-Americans in Yahya Thomas (149), Deakin (157), and Chris Cannon (133).
Lastly, Northwestern also welcomes a pair of highly-toughed, nationally ranked high school recruits in Carter Young (Stillwater, Oklahoma) and Vandervere (Warren, Illinois) to add some excellent depth to the promising NU roster.
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