ANNAPOLIS, Md.  – For the second-straight dual meet the Rutgers wrestling team relied on its heavyweight D.J. Russo (Netcong, N.J.) and the Scarlet Knight delivered again. The sophomore pinned Navy’s Tyler Moyer in 3:26 to give RU an 18-17 victory over the Midshipmen Friday night at Halsey Field House for its first victory over the service academy in eight years.

Mike Whalen lost a close desision to  nationally ranked Luke Rubertus at 174 lbs. (Roy DeBoer)

Rutgers, which last earned a victory over Navy on Jan. 27, 2001, improved to 20-5 on the season and 8-1 in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association, extending the program’s school-record victory total. It is the Scarlet Knights’ ninth victory in 10 dual meets.

Navy jumped out to a 7-0 lead through two bouts before the Scarlet Knights notched their first victory.

Freshman Trevor Melde (Hewitt, N.J.), who entered the national rankings this week, posted RU’s first win with a hard-fought 4-3 decision over Navy’s Matt Pagan at 141 pounds.

The Scarlet Knights and Midshipmen split the next two matches with each school’s nationally-ranked wrestler taking the victory. Navy’s Bryce Saddoris, ranked seventh in the nation, earned a major decision at 149 pounds before RU freshman Scott Winston (Jackson, N.J.), ranked 11th in the nation, earned a 5-4 decision over Navy’s Glenn Shober at 157 pounds to make it 11-6.

Rutgers continued to chip away at the Mids’ lead when senior Matt Pletcher (Eastampton, N.J.) earned a 3-1 victory over Navy’s Matt DeMichiel at 165 pounds.

Navy victories at 174 and 184 pounds halted the Scarlet Knights’ momentum as the Midshipmen pulled out to a 17-9 advantage heading into the final two bouts.

That would be the last bout the Mids would win, however as senior Karim Mahmoud (Wallington, N.J.) posted a 6-1 decision against Navy’s Philip Neese at 197 pounds to make it 17-12 and set up Russo’s final-bout heroics. 

The Scarlet Knights return to action Wednesday against Drexel at 7:00 p.m. in Philadelphia, Pa.   

125 - Prescott Garner (N) dec. Matt Fusco (RU), 7-3
133 - #10 Joe Baker (N) major dec. Mike Demarco (RU), 18-6
141 - Trevor Melde (RU) dec. Matt Pagan (N), 4-3
149 - #7 Bryce Saddoris (N) major dec. Kellen Bradley (RU), 16-7
157 - #11 Scott Winston (RU) dec. Glenn Shober (N), 5-4
165 - Matt Pletcher (RU) dec. Matt DeMichiel (N), 3-1
174 - #20 Luke Rebertus (N) dec. Mike Whalen (RU), 7-6
184 - Casey Caldwell (N) dec. McPaul Ogbonna (RU), 8-4
197 - Karim Mahmoud (RU) dec. Philip Neese (N), 6-1
HWT - DJ Russo (RU) pin Tyler Moyer (N), 3:26