WRES in the Rankings -- Week Three
Nov 18 | Wrestling
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Wins against No. 13 North Carolina and No. 25 Northern Iowa at the Journeymen/Asics Northeast Duals pushed Rutgers wrestling to No. 15 in the USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll, released Tuesday. The No. 15 ranking is the highest for the Scarlet Knights since beginning the 2011-12 season in the same position.
The only defeat for the Scarlet Knights (5-1) over the weekend came at the hands of Oklahoma, which moved from No. 22 to No. 14 after a strong outing at the Northeast Duals. The Sooners squeaked by Rutgers, 19-18, for RU's first loss of the season.
Rutgers continues to gain recognition in other national polls. Intermat tabs the Scarlet Knights No. 17 in its Tournament Rankings and No. 18 in its Dual Meet Rankings. WIN Magazine placed RU highest of any poll, recognizing the Scarlet Knights at No. 13 in its Dual Meet Rankings and No. 16 in its Tournament Power Index (TPI).
Sparking the dual win over UNC were key individual victories by a pair of All-American Scarlet Knights over All-American competition.
Four Rutgers grapplers remain ranked this week, as redshirt sophomore Anthony Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J.) made the biggest climb to No. 3 nationally at 141 pounds, according to Intermat.
Ashnault defeated then-No. 5 Evan Henderson, a two-time All-American, with two second period takedowns in the dual win over the Tar Heels and improved to 5-0 on the year. The No. 3 ranking is the highest of his career.
Redshirt senior Anthony Perrotti (Roseland, N.J.) posted a top-five win of his own against UNC, outlasting then-No. 3 and 2015 All-American Ethan Ramos, 6-4. Perrotti (4-1) is No. 9 this week in the Intermat Top-20, with his first loss this season coming against No. 8 Clark Glass (Oklahoma).
Redshirt senior heavyweight Billy Smith (Wantage, N.J.) moved inside the top-eight with a dominant, 7-1 decision against No. 8 Ross Larson. Smith (5-1) dropped his first match of the year Sunday against No. 6 Blaize Cabell (Northern Iowa). Smith's No. 7 ranking by Intermat is the highest of his career.
Despite a 1-2 week for redshirt freshman Anthony Giraldo (Guttenberg, N.J.) the rookie kept his No. 19 ranking at 133 pounds, per FloWrestling. Giraldo (4-2) was in all three of his matches at the Northeast Duals. He lost by fall to No. 1 Cody Brewer (Oklahoma) after holding an early lead, won 6-4 in tiebreakers over UNC's AC Headlee, and dropped a close 3-1 decision against UNI's Josh Alber.
Rutgers will wrestle its fourth consecutive ranked opponent on Saturday, Nov. 21 in Corvalis, Ore. The Scarlet Knights will take the mat against the No. 18 Oregon State Beavers (2-1), which boast four ranked individuals. Following that dual, RU takes on Utah Valley.
R-Fr. Anthony Giraldo - 133 Pounds (4-2, 4-2 Duals) | |||||
| Intermat | FloWrestling | The Open Mat | WIN Magazine | ||
| Preseason | NR | 19 | 15 | NR | |
| Nov. 4 | 20 | 19 | 15 | * | |
| Nov. 11 | 19 | 19 | 14 | NR | |
| Nov. 18 | NR | 19 | 15 | 19 | |
R-So. Anthony Ashnault - 141 Pounds (5-0, 5-0 Duals) | |||||
| Intermat | FloWrestling | The Open Mat | WIN Magazine | ||
| Preseason | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | |
| Nov. 4 | 7 | 8 | 7 | * | |
| Nov. 11 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | |
| Nov. 18 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | |
R-Sr. Anthony Perrotti - 165 Pounds (4-1, 4-1 Duals) | |||||
| Intermat | FloWrestling | The Open Mat | WIN Magazine | ||
| Preseason | 9 | 16 | 11 | 12 | |
| Nov. 4 | 9 | 13 | 11 | * | |
| Nov. 11 | 9 | 14 | 9 | 6 | |
| Nov. 18 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 7 | |
R-Sr. Billy Smith - 285 Pounds (5-1, 5-1 Duals) | |||||
| Intermat | FloWrestling | The Open Mat | WIN Magazine | ||
| Preseason | 8 | 10 | 11 | 8 | |
| Nov. 4 | 8 | 9 | 11 | * | |
| Nov. 11 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 7 | |
| Nov. 18 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 7 | |
*No new poll released
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (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) and Instagram (@RUWrestling). Fans can receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on our social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.
Players Mentioned
