Photo by: John Konstantaras
Thomas Tabbed Big Ten Wrestler Of The Week
1/3/2023 2:30:00 PM | Wrestling
Graduate student picked up pair of top-10 wins en route to Midlands title at 149 pounds
EVANSTON, Ill. (January 3, 2023) – Northwestern University graduate student Yahya Thomas (Chicago, Ill./Mount Carmel) has been named the Big Ten Conference Wrestler of the Week, it was announced by the league office on Tuesday afternoon. Thomas, who is receiving his first weekly league honor, is the first Wildcat to be recognized by the Big Ten since Lucas Davison back on November 10, 2021.
Competing at 149 pounds at the prestigious Ken Kraft Midlands Championships last week in Hoffman Estates, Ill., Thomas opened his stay at the NOW Arena with back-to-back major decision victories ahead of a 12-5 win over Tyler Badgett (Pittsburgh) in quarterfinal-round action.
In a matchup with No. 10 Doug Zapf (Penn) in the semifinals, Thomas recorded a key first-period takedown, taking a lead he would never relinquish in a 3-2 victory. The Mount Carmel, Ill. native found himself in another nailbiter in the final, outlasting No. 5 Kyle Parco (Arizona State) for a 4-3 decision to secure the individual title. He was also named the Art Kraft Champion of Champions.
Thomas was one of three individual champions for the Wildcats at the Midlands Championships, leading a charge that saw Northwestern take home the team championship at the event for the first time in program history.
Northwestern, currently sitting at No. 15 in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association Top 25, raises the curtain on its Big Ten dual meet slate on Saturday, January 7 when it entertains No. 9 Minnesota at 2 p.m. inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Competing at 149 pounds at the prestigious Ken Kraft Midlands Championships last week in Hoffman Estates, Ill., Thomas opened his stay at the NOW Arena with back-to-back major decision victories ahead of a 12-5 win over Tyler Badgett (Pittsburgh) in quarterfinal-round action.
In a matchup with No. 10 Doug Zapf (Penn) in the semifinals, Thomas recorded a key first-period takedown, taking a lead he would never relinquish in a 3-2 victory. The Mount Carmel, Ill. native found himself in another nailbiter in the final, outlasting No. 5 Kyle Parco (Arizona State) for a 4-3 decision to secure the individual title. He was also named the Art Kraft Champion of Champions.
Thomas was one of three individual champions for the Wildcats at the Midlands Championships, leading a charge that saw Northwestern take home the team championship at the event for the first time in program history.
Northwestern, currently sitting at No. 15 in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association Top 25, raises the curtain on its Big Ten dual meet slate on Saturday, January 7 when it entertains No. 9 Minnesota at 2 p.m. inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
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