Deakin Wins Second Straight Big Ten Championship
3/7/2021 4:48:00 PM | Wrestling
Six Wildcats Earned Automatic Qualifiers for the NCAA Championships
UNIVERSITY PARK, Penn. – Ryan Deakin captured his second-straight Big Ten title at 157 lbs on Sunday at the Bryce Jordan Center to cap off an impressive showing for Northwestern Wrestling at the Big Ten Championships.
As a team, the Wildcats finished seventh at the championships with a total of 74.0 team points. In total, four Wildcats earned Top-5 individual finishes.
A total of six Wildcats automatically qualified for the 2021 NCAA Championships with Michael DeAugustino, Chris Cannon, Colin Valdiviez, Deakin, David Ferrante and Lucas Davison all punching their tickets to St. Louis beginning March 18. Additional Wildcats will await at-large selection announcements ahead of the bracket release on March 10.
Deakin left no doubt in his title bout, accumulating two takedowns and over four minutes of riding time over Iowa's Kaleb Young. In three matches this weekend, Deakin defeated his competition by a combined 28-1 margin.
He becomes the ninth Wildcat in program history to win multiple Big Ten Championships, as well as the first 157 lb wrestler to win back-to-back Big Ten titles since Illinois' Isaiah Martinez in 2015-16. The redshirt senior from Broomfield, Colorado has now won a total of 27-straight matches dating back to March of 2019, earning bonus points in 17 of those 27 wins.
With Deakin's title, Northwestern wrestling has now had a Big Ten Champion in each of the last three championships (Sebastian Rivera in 2019, Rivera and Deakin in 2020, Deakin in 2021), a feat that had only been accomplished three times in program history prior to this stretch.
Also earning a podium spot at 125 lbs with a win in the Session Four fifth place match was Michael DeAugustino. DeAugustino finished the weekend 3-2 and earned his second podium finish in as many years with a 4-2 decision over Penn State's Robert Howard. Wrestling in his first Big Ten Championships, redshirt first-year Chris Cannon also secured a spot on the podium with a fourth-place finish at 133 lbs.
At 197 lbs, Lucas Davison earned a fifth place finish for a second consecutive season with a 6-4 decision over Penn State's Michael Beard.
Full Results:
125 lbs – Michael DeAugustino (3-2) placed 5th and scored 8.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Dylan Ragusin (Michigan) 4-2 decision over Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern)
Cons. Round 2 - Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern) 4-1 decision over Liam Cronin (Nebraska)
Cons. Round 3 - Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern) 6-3 decision over Patrick Mckee (Minnesota)
Cons. Semi - Rayvon Foley (Michigan State) 6-2 decision over Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern)
5th Place Match - Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern) 4-2 decision over Robert Howard (Penn State)
133 lbs – Chris Cannon (3-2) placed 4th and scored 14.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Chris Cannon (Northwestern) fall over Jackson Cockrell (Maryland) in 2:30
Quarterfinal - Chris Cannon (Northwestern) 19-6 major decision over Kyle Luigs (Indiana)
Semifinal - Roman Bravo-Young (Penn State) 8-3 decision over Chris Cannon (Northwestern)
Cons. Semi - Chris Cannon (Northwestern) 9-7 decision over Kyle Burwick (Wisconsin)
3rd Place Match - Lucas Byrd (Illinois) 7-1 decision over Chris Cannon (Northwestern)
141 lbs – Colin Valdiviez (3-3) placed 6th and scored 9.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Chad Red (Nebraska) 10-2 major decision over Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern)
Cons. Round 1 - Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern) 10-0 major decision over Matt Santos (Michigan State)
Cons. Round 2 - Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern) 13-3 major decision over Cayden Rooks (Indiana)
Cons. Round 3 - Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern) 2-0 decision over Drew Mattin (Michigan)
Cons. Semi - Chad Red (Nebraska) 13-2 major decision over Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern)
5th Place Match - Parker Filius (Purdue) 5-2 decision over Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern)
149 lbs – Yahya Thomas (2-3) placed 8th and scored 4.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Yahya Thomas (Northwestern) 8-2 decision over Christian Kanzler (Illinois)
Quarterfinal - Kanen Storr (Michigan) won in double overtime (3-3) over Yahya Thomas (Northwestern)
Cons. Round 2 - Yahya Thomas (Northwestern) 7-5 sudden victory decision over Beau Bartlett (Penn State)
Cons. Round 3 - Graham Rooks (Indiana) 3-2 decision over Yahya Thomas (Northwestern)
7th Place Match - Griffin Parriott (Purdue) won by tie breaker, 2-1, over Yahya Thomas (Northwestern)
157 lbs – Ryan Deakin (3-0) placed 1st and scored 21.0 team points.
Quarterfinal - Ryan Deakin (Northwestern) 8-0 major decision over Elijah Cleary (Ohio State)
Semifinal - Ryan Deakin (Northwestern) 14-1 major decision over Kendall Coleman (Purdue)
1st Place Match - Ryan Deakin (Northwestern) 6-0 decision over Kaleb Young (Iowa)
165 lbs – David Ferrante (3-2) placed 7th and scored 6.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Andrew Sparks (Minnesota) 8-4 decision over David Ferrante (Northwestern)
Cons. Round 1 - David Ferrante (Northwestern) 7-6 decision over Brett Donner (Rutgers)
Cons. Round 2 - David Ferrante (Northwestern) 15-6 major decision over Jonathan Spadafora (Maryland)
Cons. Round 3 - Jake Tucker (Michigan State) 14-4 major decision over David Ferrante (Northwestern)
7th Place Match - David Ferrante (Northwestern) 10-6 decision over Joe Lee (Penn State)
174 lbs – Troy Fisher
Champ. Round 1 - Logan Massa (Michigan) 16-5 major decision over Troy Fisher (Northwestern) 0-2 (MD 16-5)
Cons. Round 1 - Emil Soehnlen (Purdue) 4-3 decision over Troy Fisher (Northwestern)
Emil Soehnlen (Purdue) 3-2 decision over Troy Fisher (Northwestern)
184 lbs – Jon Halvorsen
Champ. Round 1 - Owen Webster (Minnesota) 2-3 won by major decision over Jon Halvorsen (Northwestern) 0-2 (MD 10-0)
Cons. Round 1 - Jaden Bullock (Michigan) 1-2 won by major decision over Jon Halvorsen (Northwestern) 0-2 (MD 12-3)
Quarterfinal - Jon Halvorsen (Northwestern) 13-1 major decision over Jaden Bullock (Michigan) 0-1 (MD 13-1)
Semifinal - Zach Braunagel (Illinois) 10-1 major decision over Jon Halvorsen (Northwestern) 1-1 (MD 10-1)
197 lbs – Lucas Davison (3-2) placed 5th and scored 10.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Lucas Davison (Northwestern) 6-1 decision over Jaron Smith (Maryland)
Quarterfinal - Cameron Caffey (Michigan State) 6-5 decision over Lucas Davison (Northwestern)
Cons. Round 2 - Lucas Davison (Northwestern) 14-5 major decision over Garrett Joles (Minnesota)
Cons. Round 3 - Lucas Davison (Northwestern) 7-4 decision over Billy Janzer (Rutgers)
Cons. Semi - Jacob Warner (Iowa) 5-0 decision over Lucas Davison (Northwestern)
5th Place Match - Lucas Davison (Northwestern) 6-4 decision over Michael Beard (Penn State)
285 lbs – Jack Heyob
Champ. Round 1 - Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) 16-5 major decision over Jack Heyob (Northwestern) 0-2 (MD 16-5)
Cons. Round 2 - Tate Orndorff (Ohio State) 5-2 decision over Jack Heyob (Northwestern)
As a team, the Wildcats finished seventh at the championships with a total of 74.0 team points. In total, four Wildcats earned Top-5 individual finishes.
A total of six Wildcats automatically qualified for the 2021 NCAA Championships with Michael DeAugustino, Chris Cannon, Colin Valdiviez, Deakin, David Ferrante and Lucas Davison all punching their tickets to St. Louis beginning March 18. Additional Wildcats will await at-large selection announcements ahead of the bracket release on March 10.
Deakin left no doubt in his title bout, accumulating two takedowns and over four minutes of riding time over Iowa's Kaleb Young. In three matches this weekend, Deakin defeated his competition by a combined 28-1 margin.
He becomes the ninth Wildcat in program history to win multiple Big Ten Championships, as well as the first 157 lb wrestler to win back-to-back Big Ten titles since Illinois' Isaiah Martinez in 2015-16. The redshirt senior from Broomfield, Colorado has now won a total of 27-straight matches dating back to March of 2019, earning bonus points in 17 of those 27 wins.
With Deakin's title, Northwestern wrestling has now had a Big Ten Champion in each of the last three championships (Sebastian Rivera in 2019, Rivera and Deakin in 2020, Deakin in 2021), a feat that had only been accomplished three times in program history prior to this stretch.
Also earning a podium spot at 125 lbs with a win in the Session Four fifth place match was Michael DeAugustino. DeAugustino finished the weekend 3-2 and earned his second podium finish in as many years with a 4-2 decision over Penn State's Robert Howard. Wrestling in his first Big Ten Championships, redshirt first-year Chris Cannon also secured a spot on the podium with a fourth-place finish at 133 lbs.
At 197 lbs, Lucas Davison earned a fifth place finish for a second consecutive season with a 6-4 decision over Penn State's Michael Beard.
Full Results:
125 lbs – Michael DeAugustino (3-2) placed 5th and scored 8.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Dylan Ragusin (Michigan) 4-2 decision over Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern)
Cons. Round 2 - Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern) 4-1 decision over Liam Cronin (Nebraska)
Cons. Round 3 - Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern) 6-3 decision over Patrick Mckee (Minnesota)
Cons. Semi - Rayvon Foley (Michigan State) 6-2 decision over Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern)
5th Place Match - Michael DeAugustino (Northwestern) 4-2 decision over Robert Howard (Penn State)
133 lbs – Chris Cannon (3-2) placed 4th and scored 14.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Chris Cannon (Northwestern) fall over Jackson Cockrell (Maryland) in 2:30
Quarterfinal - Chris Cannon (Northwestern) 19-6 major decision over Kyle Luigs (Indiana)
Semifinal - Roman Bravo-Young (Penn State) 8-3 decision over Chris Cannon (Northwestern)
Cons. Semi - Chris Cannon (Northwestern) 9-7 decision over Kyle Burwick (Wisconsin)
3rd Place Match - Lucas Byrd (Illinois) 7-1 decision over Chris Cannon (Northwestern)
141 lbs – Colin Valdiviez (3-3) placed 6th and scored 9.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Chad Red (Nebraska) 10-2 major decision over Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern)
Cons. Round 1 - Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern) 10-0 major decision over Matt Santos (Michigan State)
Cons. Round 2 - Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern) 13-3 major decision over Cayden Rooks (Indiana)
Cons. Round 3 - Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern) 2-0 decision over Drew Mattin (Michigan)
Cons. Semi - Chad Red (Nebraska) 13-2 major decision over Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern)
5th Place Match - Parker Filius (Purdue) 5-2 decision over Colin Valdiviez (Northwestern)
149 lbs – Yahya Thomas (2-3) placed 8th and scored 4.5 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Yahya Thomas (Northwestern) 8-2 decision over Christian Kanzler (Illinois)
Quarterfinal - Kanen Storr (Michigan) won in double overtime (3-3) over Yahya Thomas (Northwestern)
Cons. Round 2 - Yahya Thomas (Northwestern) 7-5 sudden victory decision over Beau Bartlett (Penn State)
Cons. Round 3 - Graham Rooks (Indiana) 3-2 decision over Yahya Thomas (Northwestern)
7th Place Match - Griffin Parriott (Purdue) won by tie breaker, 2-1, over Yahya Thomas (Northwestern)
157 lbs – Ryan Deakin (3-0) placed 1st and scored 21.0 team points.
Quarterfinal - Ryan Deakin (Northwestern) 8-0 major decision over Elijah Cleary (Ohio State)
Semifinal - Ryan Deakin (Northwestern) 14-1 major decision over Kendall Coleman (Purdue)
1st Place Match - Ryan Deakin (Northwestern) 6-0 decision over Kaleb Young (Iowa)
165 lbs – David Ferrante (3-2) placed 7th and scored 6.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Andrew Sparks (Minnesota) 8-4 decision over David Ferrante (Northwestern)
Cons. Round 1 - David Ferrante (Northwestern) 7-6 decision over Brett Donner (Rutgers)
Cons. Round 2 - David Ferrante (Northwestern) 15-6 major decision over Jonathan Spadafora (Maryland)
Cons. Round 3 - Jake Tucker (Michigan State) 14-4 major decision over David Ferrante (Northwestern)
7th Place Match - David Ferrante (Northwestern) 10-6 decision over Joe Lee (Penn State)
174 lbs – Troy Fisher
Champ. Round 1 - Logan Massa (Michigan) 16-5 major decision over Troy Fisher (Northwestern) 0-2 (MD 16-5)
Cons. Round 1 - Emil Soehnlen (Purdue) 4-3 decision over Troy Fisher (Northwestern)
Emil Soehnlen (Purdue) 3-2 decision over Troy Fisher (Northwestern)
184 lbs – Jon Halvorsen
Champ. Round 1 - Owen Webster (Minnesota) 2-3 won by major decision over Jon Halvorsen (Northwestern) 0-2 (MD 10-0)
Cons. Round 1 - Jaden Bullock (Michigan) 1-2 won by major decision over Jon Halvorsen (Northwestern) 0-2 (MD 12-3)
Quarterfinal - Jon Halvorsen (Northwestern) 13-1 major decision over Jaden Bullock (Michigan) 0-1 (MD 13-1)
Semifinal - Zach Braunagel (Illinois) 10-1 major decision over Jon Halvorsen (Northwestern) 1-1 (MD 10-1)
197 lbs – Lucas Davison (3-2) placed 5th and scored 10.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Lucas Davison (Northwestern) 6-1 decision over Jaron Smith (Maryland)
Quarterfinal - Cameron Caffey (Michigan State) 6-5 decision over Lucas Davison (Northwestern)
Cons. Round 2 - Lucas Davison (Northwestern) 14-5 major decision over Garrett Joles (Minnesota)
Cons. Round 3 - Lucas Davison (Northwestern) 7-4 decision over Billy Janzer (Rutgers)
Cons. Semi - Jacob Warner (Iowa) 5-0 decision over Lucas Davison (Northwestern)
5th Place Match - Lucas Davison (Northwestern) 6-4 decision over Michael Beard (Penn State)
285 lbs – Jack Heyob
Champ. Round 1 - Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) 16-5 major decision over Jack Heyob (Northwestern) 0-2 (MD 16-5)
Cons. Round 2 - Tate Orndorff (Ohio State) 5-2 decision over Jack Heyob (Northwestern)
Players Mentioned
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Saturday, February 15
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Saturday, February 08
Wrestling - 'Cats Tame Mustangs, Take Down Cal Poly 29-14 (12/19/24)
Friday, December 20
Michael DeAugustino and Yahya Thomas Join 'Big Ten Wrestling & Beyond' (2/20/23)
Tuesday, February 21