Tactics on Display at Rutgers' Scarlet vs. Black Wrestle-Offs
Nov 04 | Wrestling
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (November 4, 2011) - The No. 15 Rutgers wrestling team opened its 2011-12 season with its annual Scarlet vs. Black Wrestle-Offs on Friday in College Avenue Gymnasium. The event featured 16 intrasquad matches to give the Scarlet Knights their first taste of competition of the year.
Head coach Scott Goodale was pleased with the action on display, taking note of the close matches.
"You look for guys to get after it and wrestle hard," Goodale said. "The reality is they wrestle each other all the time. There were a lot of good things. All in all, it was good. There were some upsets and guys who wrestled some really good guys close."
The loud crowd of Scarlet Knight faithful took in one of the marquee matches of the evening, as two-time NCAA qualifiers Billy Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J.) and Trevor Melde (Hewitt, N.J.) clashed at 141 pounds. Ashnault came away with the tight victory, winning 3-0 off a nearfall move in the second period and a riding time advantage of 2:00. Ashnault redshirted the 2010-11 season, while Melde compiled a 28-15 record and a second trip to the national tournament.
In the 149-pound and heavyweight mini-tournaments, Mario Mason (Moorestown, N.J.) and Daniel Hopkins (Jackson, N.J.) emerged as winners. At 149 pounds, Mason turned away Jordan Bevery (Point Pleasant, N.J.) by a score of 2-1 to conclude the weight. Hopkins decisioned William Smith (Wantage, N.J.) 5-3 to win at heavyweight. Mason finished the 2010-11 season one victory away from earning All-America status.
In 197-pound action, Daniel Rinaldi (Lodi, N.J.) defeated Michael Wagner (South Plainfield, N.J.) by a score of 3-1 with the decisive takedown coming in the third period of wrestling. Rinaldi enters the season as a two-time NCAA qualifier.
Overall, four matches went into bonus point territory with major decisions, while 12 matches ended in decisions for the Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers begins the 2011-12 wrestling season on the road at the Brockport/Oklahoma Gold Classic on Saturday, Nov. 12. The Scarlet Knights' first home dual is set for Friday, Dec. 2 against Old Dominion at 6:30 p.m. in the RAC.
Scarlet Knight fans are reminded that season ticket sales are set to begin Monday, Nov. 14. Orders can be made online at http://tickets.scarletknights.com or by calling 1-866-445-GORU (4678). Fans can also purchase single-match tickets beginning Monday, Nov. 21. For more information, click here.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers wrestling, follow the program on Twitter (@RUWrestling). Fans can receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on our social media outlets along with http://www.ScarletKnights.com.
2011 Scarlet vs. Black Wrestle-Off
149 pounds - Mario Mason major dec. Luke Rigoglioso, 12-4
149 pounds - Jordan Beverly major dec. David Seidenberg, 8-0
HWT - William Smith dec. Carl Buchholz, 3-2
HWT - Daniel Hopkins dec. Jesse Boyden, 7-0
184 pounds - Daniel Seidenberg major dec. Evan Brewer, 10-1
174 pounds - Gregory Zannetti dec. Brendan Ard, 5-2
125 pounds - Vincent Dellefave dec. Colin O'Brien, 9-3
133 pounds - Daniel White dec. Mike DeMarco, 3-1
141 pounds - Billy Ashnault dec. Trevor Melde, 2-0
149 pounds - Anthony Perrotti dec. Joseph Hefley, 2-1
157 pounds - Anthony Volpe dec. Joe Mcauley, 6-3
165 pounds - Nicholas Visicaro major dec. Douglas Hamann, 12-4
197 pounds - Daniel Rinaldi dec. Michael Wagner, 3-1
149 pounds - Mario Mason dec. Jordan Beverly, 2-1
HWT - Daniel Hopkins dec. William Smith, 5-3
149 pounds - Luke Rigoglioso dec. David Seidenberg, 4-2
