Big Ten Wrestling power rankings: Penn State Wrestling push for No. 1?

STATE COLLEGE, PA - FEBRUARY 10: The Nittany Lion Mascot of Penn State University rallies the crowd during a match against of the Iowa Hawkeyes on February 10, 2018 at the Bryce Jordan Center on the campus of Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

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Yahya Thomas of Northwestern celebrates after (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

team. 882. . . . Wildcats . 9

Dual Rank: 18
Record Last Season: 2-6
Ranked Wrestlers: 5
125 No. 14 Michael DeAugustino
133 No. 8 Chris Cannon
149 No. 3 Yahya Thomas
157 No. 3 Ryan Deakin
285 No. 20 Lucas Davison

Northwestern didn’t exactly have the best dual meet record in last season’s shortened schedule.

But, don’t let this fool you, they have a solid lineup top to bottom with several title contenders in the lighter weight classes.

Yahya Thomas (149) had a horrible showing in the 2021 B1G Championships as he finished in a disappointing 8th place. And this is a game within the game when it comes to wrestling. Faced with adversity wrestlers either learn and get better, or they don’t and get worse.

For Thomas, he turned a corner at the 2021 NCAA Championships by finishing in 3rd place and taking down several top-level wrestlers along the way.

The biggest question for the Wildcats this season is this: Will this be the year Ryan Deakin finally wins an NCAA title?

Northwestern is set to attend the Michigan State Open on November 6th to start their season out.

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