Over the past few years, Huntley's David Ferrante gained a familiarity with Northwestern wrestling coaches through attending practices at Northwestern's Chicago Regional Training Center.

Once or twice a week during the offseason, Ferrante will make the one-hour, 20-minute drive to Northwestern’s campus in Evanston.

“I’ve had a really positive experience working with the coaches,” Ferrante said. “They’ve all helped me out a lot, and I felt like I’ve gotten a lot out of going there.”

That familiarity with the coaches and the academic possibilities at Northwestern are the main reasons why Ferrante committed to wrestle for coach Matt Storniolo's program. Ferrante announced his commitment Sunday on Twitter.

“I really like the team. The coaches are all phenomenal, stand-up guys,” Ferrante said. “All the wrestlers are super great guys, as well.”

Ferrante heads into his junior season with the Red Raiders next month. As a freshman in 2016-17, he earned a fourth-place medal at the IHSA state finals at 152 pounds in Class 3A.

Ferrante did not medal at state last season but was wrestling through ligament injuries in this thumb and elbow. He also helped the Red Raiders finish fourth at the Class 3A dual team state championships last season, the first time in program history they brought home a trophy.

Academics always have been an important factor in Ferrante’s college decision. He ranks No. 1 in Huntley’s junior class out of more than 700 students and has a 4.55 grade-point average.

His second choice was Cornell.

“It was really between Northwestern and Cornell,” Ferrante said. “Growing up, I’d always wanted to go to a school that was elite academically and athletically. I felt like Northwestern and Cornell were basically the best two options.”

Ferrante said he always has had in interest in becoming an orthopedic surgeon, although he hasn't made up his mind yet what he will study in college.

The chance to wrestle in the Big Ten was too enticing to pass up.

"Cornell’s a great school, but their toughest dual is probably Lehigh," Ferrante said. "Lehigh’s a great team. But at Northwestern, you can have duals like that every week. Penn State. Iowa. It’s kind of like a dream growing up. You always want to wrestle on that stage against some of the best teams. I know Northwestern, being a Big Ten school, can help facilitate that dream."

Ferrante had surgery on his thumb in the spring and was cleared in July. He has high aspirations again this season with goals of reaching the podium at the individual state finals.

“I was definitely dissatisfied, to say the least, with my individual performance,” Ferrante said of 2017-18. “I felt like I could have performed better, even with battling injuries. But this year is a new year.”