EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern wrestling is receiving national recognition for its incoming class, with a pair of outlets awarding the Wildcats Top-20 spots in their recruiting class rankings. InterMat tabbed the ‘Cats’ incoming class the No. 14 group in DI wrestling, while MatScouts ranked Northwestern No. 16.
Using MatScouts’ individual rankings to inform its order, InterMat called Northwestern’s 2026 class potentially “program-changing” in its concentration of talent. Headlined by the No. 41 signee nationally, Will Detar, this year’s class is the highest ranked Northwestern group by InterMat since 2021. The ‘Cats outpaced two-thirds of the conference on the outlet’s list, sitting fifth in the Big Ten in the InterMat rankings. They follow No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Michigan, No. 6 Penn State and No. 11 Illinois.
In addition to Detar, MatScouts put two more Wildcats in its Top 60 individually: four-time Georgia State Champion Ryder Wilder (No. 51) and three-time Iowa State Finalist Jaxon Miller (No. 57). Another two made the Top-200 (No. 118 Liam Davis and No. 159 Travyn Boger). Overall, MatScouts lauded Northwestern for recruiting a class “that upgrades the lineup across the board,” placing the ‘Cats seventh in the Big Ten in 2026 recruiting class rankings.
Head Coach Matt Storniolo and his staff will welcome in nine total first-years this fall, including several who have already seen national and international success. At the lighter weights, Detar and Davis will be joined by U17 World Team member Alexander Pierce. Seach Hibler, three-time New Jersey State podium-finisher and younger brother of current Northwestern wrestler August Hibler, will join a strong core of ‘Cats at the middle weights. Northwestern’s upper weights will be bolstered by five additions: Wilder, Miller, Boger, Ryan Meier and National Prep Champion Peter Snyder.