2009-10: Did not compete ... Completing a two-year Mormon mission.
2008-09: Saw time as a starter at heavyweight as a true freshman following a season-ending injury to Ben Kuhar ... Finished 5-12 overall and 2-6 in duals ... 0-5 in the Big Ten and 0-2 at first Big Ten Championships ... Pinned Zak Saevre of Northern Illinois in 1:22 in dual match on 12/4 ... Also pinned Arizona State's Imamiboum Etukeren for his only victory at Midlands Championships ... 2-2 at Michigan State Open.
High School: Four-year letterwinner and three-time team captain ... Two-time team MVP ... Overall record of 116-28 ... Set school pin record in junior year with 32 ... Went 42-5 during senior year ... Fourth in state championships his senior year to earn All-State recognition ... Two-time conference, regional and sectional champion ... Two-time All-Conference and All-Area selection in football ... Earned All-State honors in football ... Also lettered in baseball and track ... Member of National Honors Society ... Coached by Dan Cysewski.
Personal: Born Paul Nathan Rands ... Son of Steve and Linda Rands ... Chose Northwestern over Purdue, Utah Valley, Southern Illinois and Illinois ... Enrolled in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.
Rands' Stats
| Year | Overall Record | Dual Record | |
| 2008-09 | 5-12 | 2-6 | |
| 2009-10 (redshirt season) | 0-0 | 0-0 | |
| Career | 5-12 | 2-6 |