In every frame of an Instagram video announcing his return to Michigan’s lineup, Dylan Ragusin’s T-shirt is soaked with sweat. His cheeks are a bit flushed. 

There is no mistaking the three-time NCAA qualifier’s intensity as he is shown bouncing around the mat perfecting his footwork, fervently honing his moves with talented practice partners or simply gathering himself for the next drill. 

“The plan this year was to redshirt, but plans change. See you Friday,” read Ragusin’s comments accompanying the video which was posted two days before his season debut in a dual against Maryland last Friday. 

The coaching staff’s original plan for Ragusin, a starter at 125 or 133 pounds since the day he joined the Wolverines in the fall of 2020, was to finally utilize his redshirt this season. That would allow the three-time Fargo champion to recover from the grind of the past few years while continuing to sharpen his skills.  

The timing seemed perfect thanks to the transfer of two-time, 133-pound All-American Chris Cannon from Northwestern. 

"Once the coaches knew Chris was coming here, they asked if I would be cool with taking my redshirting during the upcoming season and I felt that made sense," Ragusin said. "I don't think a lot of people on the outside realize how much of a grind wrestling in the Big Ten is and I had done it for the three years. Spending a season getting my body some rest while still wrestling in open tournaments seemed like a great idea."

Ragusin added that the hope was to then work both him and Cannon into the lineup during 2024-25 following the departure of current 125-pound starter Micheal DeAugustino, another All-American transfer from Northwestern. 

That could still happen if Ragusin never redshirts, but the plan for this season quickly went awry when Cannon suffered a head injury less than two minutes into his first match in a Michigan uniform during the season-opening dual against Columbia.

Cannon could not continue against Angelo Rini and has been unable to return to the lineup. The Wolverines forfeited 133 in their next dual against Rider. Redshirt freshman Nolan Wertanen was inserted there for the third dual of the season against South Dakota State and was pinned. 

Meanwhile, Ragusin was staying sharp by going 14-0 in open competition and winning the Michigan State, Cleveland State and Midlands tournaments. Along the way, he knocked off three-time NCAA qualifier Michael Colaicco (Penn), currently ranked #13 at 133, and #11  Dylan Shawver (Rutgers), also an NCAA qualifier. 

With Cannon still unavailable and the Big Ten opener against Maryland looming, Michigan coach Sean Bormet and his staff had a decision to make. They met with Ragusin around noon on Jan. 6 and asked if would be willing to forgo his redshirt to strengthen the lineup. 

A little more than 24 hours later, Ragusin agreed, putting his redshirt away for another day. 

"What happened to Chris was upsetting and the coaches have to do what's best for the team, but they left the final decision completely up to me," Ragusin said. "I gave it plenty of thought because I had been planning for a different kind of season, but in the end I believe in the strength of this team and they needed me. I wasn't going to sit back and not do what's best for our program right now."

The spotlight was on Ragusin as he began a 38-3 trouncing of the Terrapins with a 5-1 decision over #15 Braxton Brown, an NCAA qualifier. As is his style, Ragusin was the aggressor from the opening whistle, breaking through with a takedown in the second period before riding out Brown for the entirety of the final period. 

Two days later, Ragusin made short work of Michigan State's Andrew Hampton with a 19-4 technical fall in just 2:33 as the Wolverines rolled to a 29-12 win over the Spartans.

As a result, Ragusin entered the 133-pound rankings at #6 and second in the Big Ten behind #4 Aaron Nagao of Penn State. He is now 16-0 overall this season, including five technical falls and five major decisions. 

"It was a quick turnaround (five days) to the Maryland match once I said yes and a little tough because I had only had to make weight three times before during the season, but I was ready because my training regimen did not change at all," Ragusin said. "This experience is a perfect example of how important it is to stay ready. Overall, my wrestling has been going well and I'm beginning the Big Ten part of the schedule feeling more fresh."

That feeling of freshness applies to Ragusin's mind as well as his body, a point of emphasis since last season did not conclude as well as he had hoped.

Ragusin was fifth in the Big Ten tournament before his NCAA Championships run ended in the round of 16 instead of the podium.  

"Another reason for redshirting was giving myself a mental break as well," he said. "I don't think people realize how much wrestling our schedule is a mental grind as well and the mental aspect is something I've focused on improving by talking to professionals who've been able to help me. The goal now is to put together a better stretch of wrestling at the end of this season."

Ragusin will likely get a true sense of where he is at Friday with a likely first-ever meeting against Nagao when the Nittany Lions visit Ann Arbor. He was fifth at last year's NCAA Championships while wrestling for Minnesota. 

A rematch with Shawver should follow Sunday when the Wolverines welcome Rutgers to Crisler Center. Ragusin could also face #10 Nic Bouzakis (Ohio State) and #17 Brody Teske (Iowa), a three-time NCAA qualifier, prior to the Big Ten Championships. 

"Matches like the one against Nagao are what I live for because I want to wrestle the best guys out there," Ragusin said. "Still, my main focus this season is not necessarily wins and losses, but wrestling really hard for all seven minutes, getting in guys' faces and putting on a show. I'm sure winning will take care of itself if I do that and I won't have any regrets."

Ragusin, who brought a 51-23 career record into this season, originally thought he might be redshirted his first year with the program (2020-21), but 133-pound starter Stevan Micic took that season off to prepare for the delayed Olympics.

Jack Medley, the previous season's 125-pound starter, was bumped to 133 and Ragusin was tapped to fill 125. He did not disappoint as a true freshman, going 8-5, qualifying for the NCAA Championships and finishing seventh in the Big Ten.

Ragusin began his career with a bang pinning Rutgers' Nic Aguilar, an NCAA qualifier the previous season, in just 61 seconds. He followed that with a 9-1 decision over Maryland's King Sandoval and was named Big Ten Wrestling of the Week.  

Micic returned the next season, but at 141, and Medley moved back to 125. Ragusin was needed at 133 and enjoyed his best season as a Wolverine thus far, finishing 24-8 while placing third in the Big Ten and reaching the round of 12 at the NCAA Championships.

Ragusin went 19-10 last season, but only 3-3 in his final six matches. 

"Wrestling at this level can be grueling and one thing wrestling guarantees is heartbreak," he said. "It's been kind of struggle the past couple of years once I've gotten to the NCAA Championships, but that's the past. I've been emphasizing becoming the best version of myself on and off the mat and being myself during matches. That means not wrestling tight, making sure I'm hitting my attacks well and executing counter moves with force."