Category: Rutgers wrestling

(Seismic) Boom: Rutgers wrestling’s latest transfer gets a huge upset at the US Open

Jacob Butler, now with Rutgers wrestling, impresses at the US Open.

Not only did Jacob Butler announce a transfer to Rutgers wrestling on Friday, but he also landed the biggest moment of this week’s US Open in Las Vegas.

The freestyle tournament provides a pathway for making a world team and Butler pulled off a huge moment when he pinned No. 1 Alec Pantaleo at 70kg.

Butler is a solid addition for Rutgers out of the transfer portal. Last season, he posted a 14-8 record for No. 23 Oklahoma while wrestling at 157 pounds.

WrestleStat projects him to be at 149 pounds this season for Rutgers.

Rutgers finished this past season at No. 22 in the final NWCA Coaches Poll. They have been active in the transfer portal already this spring.

 

In April, Rutgers added two-time NCAA qualifier Yaraslau Slavikouski via the portal. Last season at Harvard, Slavikouski went 30-6 last season and won three matches in the NCAA Tournament.

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He is also a member of Belarus’ national team.

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Rutgers wrestling adds two-time NCAA qualifier in Yaraslau Slavikouski

Earlier this week, the Rutgers wrestling program got a significant boost with the addition of a Harvard graduate transfer.

Earlier this week, the Rutgers wrestling program got a significant boost with the addition of a Harvard graduate transfer. The Scarlet Knights added two-time NCAA qualifier Yaraslau Slavikouski to the mix. The Northfield Mount Hermon boarding school product will be eligible to wrestle for Rutgers starting next season.

While the 2023-2024 season is still months away, the addition of Slavikouski has added a lot of excitement for what is in store. The graduate transfer was one of the best heavyweights in the country at Harvard, which should continue in Piscataway.

Additionally, the Rechitsa native is joining a program already full of talent. Rutgers was ranked No. 22 in the final 2022-23 NWCA Coaches Poll. It marked the tenth top-25 finish for the Scarlet Knights under head coach Scott Goodale. Rutgers also produced seven NCAA qualifiers for the second consecutive season, and that number should grow during the 2023-2024 campaign with Slavikousi in the lineup.

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For Rutgers wrestling, the future got a lot brighter.

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How big is the new commitment of Yaraslau Slavikouski for Rutgers wrestling? Pretty, pretty, pretty big news

Rutgers wrestling got a big transfer portal addition on Friday.

Rutgers wrestling landed a massive victory on Friday night with the commitment of Yaraslau Slavikouski via the transfer portal. The former Harvard heavyweight brings experience and a strong record to a weight class where he will step in right away with an eye toward being an All-American.

In three years at Harvard, Slavikouski went 64-15 and twice qualified for the NCAA Tournament at 285 pounds. He was the team captain last year for the Crimson.

In addition, he is a member of the Belarus national team.

This offseason is a rebuilding one for Rutgers as they look to improve on a 10-7 record (2-6 Big Ten). Adding a heavyweight like Slavikouski will be a big step toward being viable once again in the Big Ten.

Last season, Slavikouski was one win away in the NCAA Tournament from All-American honors.

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Following the end of his team’s season, head coach Scott Goodale said that changes were coming to his program. Adding a talent like Slavikouski certainly is a major domino to fall for Rutgers.

“Excited to rebuild it, to get it back to where we were, and have on the last day three or four guys wrestling and that’s what we’re going to do,” Goodale told reporters in March.

“I’m pretty honest with myself and our staff and where we’re at and what we need to do and we might need a little bit of an overhaul right now.  Not total – we have some pretty guys back at home. Shawver (Dylan Shawver) and Poznianski (John Poznanski) have won some matches here. Obviously Poz is an All-America

“We’re going to bring some guys in, we’re going to get after it. I’m sure it will be a little bit of a different look. We’re excited to do that and start that whole process. But we do have a core of guys who can compete so we’ll go from there.

“We got to get better, we got to get better.”

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Conner Harer cites special bond with Scott Goodale in his Rutgers wrestling commitment: ‘Can’t wait to win a national title with him in my corner’

Rutgers wrestling formed a strong relationship in landing Conner Carer.

A major part of Conner Harer picking Rutgers wrestling among a list of the sports blue blood programs comes from the connection the recruit formed with Scott Goodale. It was a special connection that Harer, one of the top recruits in the nation, said helped sell him on the Scarlet Knights.

A class of 2024 recruit, Harer had a 133-5 record during three seasons at Montgomery High School (Montgomery, PA). Last season, he wrestled at 152 pounds and finished first in the state.

At the time of his decision for Rutgers, he held offers from Bucknell, George Mason, Indiana, Lehigh, Michigan, Notre Dame, North Carolina, North Carolina State, UPenn, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Princeton, Stanford, Virginia and Virginia Tech among others.

“Coach Goodale is hands down the most down-to-earth coach I know at the highest level,” Harer told Rutgers Wire last week.

“His energy is unmatched and he will do anything for his wrestlers. He ensures everyone is family and wants the best for everyone. One thing though, that I like most about coach is his understanding of life. As a Division 1 athlete, there’s a lot of pressure and anxiety that goes on, starting with keeping good grades to performing on the mat. He knows that some people may struggle mentally and physically and sometimes just can’t adapt to it, but reminds them that there is more to life than wrestling.

“Having someone who cares about you like family in your corner, makes it even better compete for. Knowing that I’m going to war out there and he has my back allows me to be freer and have fun. He has all the characteristics of a great coach and more. Can’t wait to win a national title with him in my corner.”

The landing of Harer is a significant recruiting battle for Goodale, landing him a wrestler who legitimately projects as an All-American caliber prospect. Goodale deserves credit for his recruitment and being able to land such a coveted recruit.

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Harer said that relationships mattered in his committing to the Scarlet Knights.

“I was greeted and treated like family in every aspect. The coaches are awesome and have plenty of ability to help me reach my goals. The team itself has one key fundamental that no other college had, and that’s family. They all get along and treat everyone the same. Everyone is like-minded and wants to reach/surpass every goal in place,” Harer said.

“In college to be a national champ you have to eat, sleep, and breathe wrestling, and the guys on the team really bring out the true components of a champion. Being a great wrestler is one thing, but being a great person is another, and every coach and athlete on the team fulfills that category. I’m excited for the future and ready to make some noise! Pennsylvania is about to bring some hardware into Jersey!”

 

Conner Harer breaks down his Rutgers wrestling commitment: ‘Pennsylvania is about to bring some hardware into Jersey!’

Conner Harer committed to Rutgers wrestling last week.

Last week, Rutgers wrestling snagged a major national talent in Conner Harer. It was a big recruiting win for the Scarlet Knights as they landed a top talent from Pennsylvania.

One of the top wrestlers in the nation, Harer posted a 133-5 record during three seasons at Montgomery High School (Montgomery, PA). Last season, he wrestled at 152 pounds and finished first in the state.

He is a class of 2024 commitment for Rutgers and head coach Scott Goodale.

He held offers from Bucknell, George Mason, Indiana, Lehigh, Michigan, Notre Dame, North Carolina, North Carolina State, UPenn, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Princeton, Stanford, Virginia and Virginia Tech among others.

His decision to pick Rutgers is massive news for the program as they look to restock the program with top-tier athletes.

“I chose Rutgers University for numerous reasons. The moment I talked with the coaches and stepped on campus, I got a feeling that this was my new home,” Harer told Rutgers Wire.

“I was greeted and treated like family in every aspect. The coaches are awesome and have plenty of ability to help me reach my goals. The team itself has one key fundamental that no other college had, and that’s family. They all get along and treat everyone the same. Everyone is like-minded and wants to reach/surpass every goal in place.

“In college to be a national champ you have to eat, sleep, and breathe wrestling, and the guys on the team really bring out the true components of a champion. Being a great wrestler is one thing, but being a great person is another, and every coach and athlete on the team fulfills that category. I’m excited for the future and ready to make some noise! Pennsylvania is about to bring some hardware into Jersey!”

As a sophomore, Harer finished first in the state at 145 pounds, giving him state championship titles in each of the past two years.

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His commitment to Rutgers ends a long courtship that extends a couple of years to when he was an underclassman at Montgomery. Now with his decision made and public, Harer believes in the direction of the program to continue its rise through the rankings.

The message from the staff and the team is something he says stood out in his recruitment.

“Knowing that I was wanted and supported by everyone,” Harer said.

“Coaches, staff and teammates are constantly messaging me throughout the year, making sure I’m doing good and catching up on things. Goes a long way when the whole team shows they care about you.”

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Rutgers wrestling wrapped up action in the NCAA Wrestling Championship

No. 22 Rutgers wrestling wrapped up action in the NCAA Wrestling Championship after No. 13 seed Dean Peterson lost in the ‘Blood Round.’

On Friday, No. 22 Rutgers wrestling wrapped up action in the NCAA Wrestling Championship.

No. 13 seed Dean Peterson (125 Ibs.) ended action for the Scarlet Knights in Tulsa, Oklahoma, losing  3-1 to No. 8 seed Anthony Noto (Lock Haven).

Peterson made it to the ‘Blood Round’ one win shy from All-American status. The 125-pound Peterson won back-to-back matches Friday morning, advancing him to the ‘blood round.’ On his first trip to the NCAA Championship, Peterson finished with a 3-2 record.

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In his first match, Peterson faced No. 19 seed Braxton Brown (Maryland), defeating Brown in a 6-0 decision. After his victory over Brown, Peterson faced No. 11 Patrick McKee (Minnesota). Peterson defeated the two-time All-American by a 6-4 decision.

Rutgers No. 16 seed Joe Heilmann (133 Ibs.) and No. 18 seed Brian Soldano (184 Ibs.) also wrestled on Friday. Heilmann went winless on the day, losing 6-1 to No. 15 seed Kyle Biscoglia (Northern Iowa). Wrestling in the 133-pound weight class, Heilmann wrestled tough in his 6-1 loss. He would finish the tournament with a record of 1-2.

As for No. 18 seed Brian Soldano, the Rutgers freshman won his first match. Soldano pinned No. 16 Reece Heller (Pittsburgh), advancing him to the next round. Unfortunately, that is the farthest the freshman would go. Soldano lost a tough 9-2 decision to No. 8 seed Mitch Finesilver (Michigan) in round three. Soldano finished his first NCAA Championship with a 2-2 record.

Under head coach Scott Goodale, this is the second consecutive season the Scarlet Knights produced seven NCAA qualifiers. Also, it is the ninth season Goodale qualified five or more wrestlers for the national championship.

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Scott Goodale: Rutgers wrestling set ‘for a little bit of an overhaul right now’

Rutgers wrestling is ready for an offseason of changes.

By the rather lofty standards of Rutgers wrestling, this season fell a bit short and, according to head coach Scott Goodale, it is time for this program to begin the rebuilding process

Rutgers got shut out of the podium at the NCAA Tournament this week. The Scarlet Knights finished the season 10-7 and 2-6 in the Big Ten.

They had some notable results including beating a ranked Princeton, UPenn and Michigan State.

In speaking with the media on Friday, Goodale laid out what a crucial offseason this is for the program. An offseason of what is likely to see significant change for Rutgers.

“Excited to rebuild it, to get it back to where we were, and have on the last day three or four guys wrestling and that’s what we’re going to do,” Goodale told reporters.

“I’m pretty honest with myself and our staff and where we’re at and what we need to do and we might need a little bit of an overhaul right now.  Not total – we have some pretty guys back at home. Shawver (Dylan Shawver) and Poznianski (John Poznanski) have won some matches here. Obviously Poz is an All-America

“We’re going to bring some guys in, we’re going to get after it. I’m sure it will be a little bit of a different look. We’re excited to do that and start that whole process. But we do have a core of guys who can compete so we’ll go from there.

“We got to get better, we got to get better.”

Last year, Rutgers finished the season ranked No. 14 in the nation following a win where they had 16 wins.

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Here is the full video of Goodale talking with the media via Nick Kosko:

 

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NCAA Wrestling Championship: Which Scarlet Knight advanced to round 3?

Rutgers had seven wrestlers take part in the NCAA Wrestling Championship. After day one, which Scarlet Knight is still alive?

After the conclusion of round two on Thursday, No. 22 Rutgers wrestling has three wrestlers advancing to round three in the NCAA Wrestling Championship. No. 13 Dean Peterson (125 Ibs.), No. 16 Joe Heilmann (133 Ibs.), and No. 18 Brian Soldano (184 Ibs.) are the three Scarlet Knights advancing to round three on Friday.

During round one of the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Scarlet Knights had seven wrestlers hit the mat trying to become a champion for their weight class. No. 13 Dean Peterson (125 Ibs.), No. 16 Joe Heilmann (133 Ibs.), No. 31 Anthony White (149 Ibs.), No. 21 Andrew Clark (157 Ibs.), No. 30 Jackson Turley (174 Ibs.), and No. 24 Boone McDermott (HWT) would go on to lose their round one matches, limiting them to one loss shy of elimination.

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For the Scarlet Knights, only one wrestler would be victorious during the first round of action. Freshman Brian Soldano (184 Ibs.) pinned No. 15 seed Layne Malczewski (Michigan State) in the first period, advancing him to the second round.

During Soldano’s second-round match, No. 2 seed Trent Hilday defeated the Rutgers freshman 12-4. Hilday gave Soldano his first loss, one shy of elimination. In round three, Soldano is set to face No. 16 Reece Heller (Pittsburgh) tomorrow morning.

After losing his first match in round one by a 4-3 decision to No. 20 seed Jarrett Trombley (NC State), Rutgers Dean Peterson pulled out a 4-1 decision over No. 29 Nico Provo in round two to advance. Peterson is set to wrestle No. 19 Braxton Brown (Maryland) in round three.

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During Thursday’s early action, Rutgers’ Joe Heilmann lost a tough 4-2 decision over No. 17 seed Brayden Palmer (UT-Chattanooga). Heilmann would battle back Thursday night, defeating No. 33 Ethan Oakley (Appalachian State) 8-4. Tomorrow, Heilmann is scheduled to wrestle No. 15 Kyle Biscoglia (Northern Iowa) for his third-round matchup.

After the conclusion of round two, Peterson, Heilmann, and Soldano are the only Scarlet Knights still alive when wrestling resumes tomorrow morning. The three Scarlet Knights will have to win three matches Friday to earn All-America status. As for the rest of the four Scarlet Knights, they were officially eliminated after receiving their second loss in round two.

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Rutgers wrestling readies for the Garden State Grapple

Rutgers Wrestling will faceoff against some tough competition this weekend.

On SundayRutgers wrestling is set to face off against No. 21 UPenn and Drexel in the Garden State Grapple. For the second year in a row, the dual-scheduled event will be held at the Prudential Center in Newark N.J.

The schools that will participate in this showcase will be: No. 11 Wisconsin, No. 19 Rutgers, No. 21 UPenn, Drexel, Binghamton, Indiana, Michigan State, and Princeton.

The showcase will be an entertaining one with three out of the eight schools listed in the top 25. The rest of the competition is strong as well. Indiana, Michigan State, and Princeton are on the verge of breaking the NCAA top 25 rankings, receiving votes in the latest coach’s poll.

Rutgers head coach, Scott Goodale, is looking forward to the showcase, calling it an “electric atmosphere.” Goodale went on to express the opportunity this event brings to compete with high-level competition.

Rutgers had success last year in the Garden State Grapple, defeating the then-No. 12 North Carolina along with Hofstra to move to 8-0 on the season. Last year’s Garden State Grapple capped off Rutgers’ best start of the season since 2014-2015. The Scarlet Knights will look to continue their success for the second consecutive year, as they prepare for this upcoming showcase.

Event Schedule:

Dual Meet Round 1 Time: 2 p.m. EST
No. 19 Rutgers No. 21 UPenn
No. 11 Wisconsin Princeton
Michigan State Binghamton
Indiana Drexel
Dual Meet Round 2 Time: 4 p.m. EST
No. 19 Rutgers Drexel
No. 11 Wisconsin No. 21 UPenn
Michigan State Princeton
Indiana Binghamton

 

Rutgers wrestling executed strong performance in Roadrunner Open

After the Roadrunner Open on Sunday in Bakersfield, California, Rutgers wrestling left its mark on the west coast.

After the Roadrunner Open on Sunday in Bakersfield, California, Rutgers wrestling left its mark on the West Coast. Coming off a nice 20-15 dual win over Stanford in Palo Alto the day before, Rutgers concluded their road trip by claiming three individual titles at the Roadrunner Open.

Eighteen Scarlet Knights competed in this open, six of them competing in the championship finals. Dylan Shawyer (125), Joe Heilman (133), Tony White (149), Andrew Clark (157), Brian Soldano (184), and Boone McDermott (HWT) all competed in the championship finals, but only Heilman, White, and McDermott would claim individual titles.

In his final match, Shawyer lost a close match, 2-1, to No. 10 Brandon Kaylor out of Oregon State. Shawyer forced overtime but fell short in a sudden victory to finish 2nd at 125. Soldano, wrestling at 184 pounds, suffered his first loss of the season, losing to No. 6 Trey Munoz (Oregon State) 5-3. Even though he lost in the championship match the freshman out of High Point High School in New Jersey added two more pins to his resume. Shawyer and Soldano should be proud of their performances, losing to wrestlers ranked in the top 10 nationally.

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Unfortunately, Andrew Clark advanced to the finals but had to register for a medical forfeit.

As for the three champs, Heilman, White, and McDermott dominated their weight class. Heilman, wrestling in the 133-weight class, went 5-0 on the day. The Jersey native had two tech falls and two major decisions. In his final match, Heilman beat Oregon State Jason Shaner by a 2-0 decision to capture the 133-pound title.

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As for White, he defeated Oregon State Riley Gurr by an 8-7 decision capturing the 149-pound title. On the day, White had one tech fall, a pin, and a 6-2 decision in the semifinals. McDermott, wrestling heavyweight, showed his dominance throughout the day by providing a 12-second pin in his opening match. Later on, McDermott would have another early victory, beating Chris Island (Cal Baptist) in the first period to capture the heavyweight title.

As Rutgers heads back to the east coast, the Scarlet Knights will start preparing for the Garden State Grapple on Sunday, December 4, 2022. The Garden State Grapple will be held at the Prudential Center in New Jersey, where Rutgers will face No. 21 Penn and Drexel.

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