DETROIT, Mich. – Northwestern wrestling's Ryan Deakin won the 157lb national title on Saturday night at the NCAA Wrestling Championships, becoming the ninth different Northwestern wrestler to bring home a national championship.
Wrestling in his final collegiate match, Deakin took down Princeton's No. 5 Quincy Monday by a 9-2 decision in the title match to lock up his first-career national championship.
The Broomfield, Colorado native concluded up his fifth and final season wrestling for Northwestern with a perfect 18-0 record and a 114-15 career record. He finishes as a four-time All-American, making him one of just four Wildcat wrestlers (Mike McMullan, Jake Herbert and Mike Funk) ever to achieve such a feat.
Deakin becomes the first NU wrestler to win a national championship since 2014, as well as the first-ever national champion under head coach Matt Storniolo. He secured his spot on the top of the podium with five wins (four over reigning All-Americans) over the three-day period by a combined 31-8 margin, including a pin in the second round.
Northwestern wrapped up the NCAA tournament with 57.5 team points and a sixth place finish–the fourth-highest finish in program history.
Wrestling in his final collegiate match, Deakin took down Princeton's No. 5 Quincy Monday by a 9-2 decision in the title match to lock up his first-career national championship.
The Broomfield, Colorado native concluded up his fifth and final season wrestling for Northwestern with a perfect 18-0 record and a 114-15 career record. He finishes as a four-time All-American, making him one of just four Wildcat wrestlers (Mike McMullan, Jake Herbert and Mike Funk) ever to achieve such a feat.
Deakin becomes the first NU wrestler to win a national championship since 2014, as well as the first-ever national champion under head coach Matt Storniolo. He secured his spot on the top of the podium with five wins (four over reigning All-Americans) over the three-day period by a combined 31-8 margin, including a pin in the second round.
Northwestern wrapped up the NCAA tournament with 57.5 team points and a sixth place finish–the fourth-highest finish in program history.