Top Ranked Heavyweight Sahakian Flips to Michigan

The University of Michigan’s already-impressive Class of 2025 got even better on Friday as California heavyweight prospect Nicholas Sahakian (St. John Bosco, CA) committed to the Wolverines. 

Sahakian is currently ranked #41 overall in the Class of 2025 and 10th in the nation at 285 lbs by MatScouts in the final rankings cycle that included graduating seniors. In the first set without the Class of 2024, Sahakian is ranked #1 in the nation. 

In July of 2023, Sahakian committed to Arizona State University, but was obviously too young to sign a National Letter of Intent, and has now flipped to Michigan. 

In three years of high school competition, Sahakian has placed three times in California’s single-class state tournament, each time at an upper weight. As a freshman, he was third at 220 lbs. He’d win that weight in 2023. This year, Sahakian moved up to 285 lbs and fell by a point in the state finals to Cody Merrill, the #2 overall prospect in the Class of 2024. 

Against national competition, Sahakian has placed six times at the UWW U17 World Team Trials. Last spring, he earned a spot on the Greco-Roman world team and was a finalist in freestyle competition. 

After making the Greco team, Sahakian went to the Pan-American U17 Championships and took gold in both styles. He would also compete at the U17 World Championships and was beaten in the bronze medal matchup. 

Before his junior year of high school, Sahakian won a championship belt at the Super 32. He had placed seventh the year before. 

In 2022, Sahakian won a 16U Greco title in Fargo, which marked the third career Fargo placement for him.  

It’s hard to argue with a heavyweight choosing Michigan as former Wolverines, Mason Parris and Adam Coon, are going to the Olympic Games in freestyle and Greco-Roman, respectively. 

We’ll have to wait and see how this recruiting class shakes out for Michigan. They already have commitments from #11 Jude Correa (a 285 lb prospect) and #20 De’Alcapone Veazy (a 197 lb prospect). The Wolverines certainly need help at both weights as it’s uncertain who will be the long-term starter at either weight. With all three potentially in the same class, there could be a high-level prospect who sees little mat time. 

With Sahakian’s commitment, Michigan now has verbals from five of the top-56 rising seniors in the nation - three of which fall in the top-20. 

To check out Michigan’s current Class of 2025