Rutgers University
Journeymen Tussle
Van Brill Upends Two Ranked Opponents at Journeymen Tussle
Dec 04 | Wrestling
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Fourteen Rutgers wrestlers competed Sunday at the 2016 Journeymen Tussle, hosted by Hofstra University at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. 157-pounder John Van Brill had the biggest day among the No. 12-ranked Scarlet Knights, pinning No. 4 Max Rohskopf (NC State) and defeating No. 16 May Bethea (Penn).
"We came here to wrestle the nationally ranked guys. We had a lot of matchups with them and we didn't win many of them," said head coach Scott Goodale. "We won a couple, but it's not enough. It wasn't a terrible day, it wasn't a great day, it was a very solid day. There were a lot of good things, but we had an opportunity to beat the best guys in the country and we didn't do that, so that's disappointing."
Van Brill (10-2) led Rohskopf, a two-time NCAA qualifier, by a 10-1 score when he scored the fall at the 5:45 mark, and held the Wolfpack wrestler in a near fall position for more than a minute to close the second period. Following the upset win, the Mullica Hill, New Jersey, native topped Bethea by a 4-2 score.
The redshirt sophomore lost a 12-10 sudden victory decision to Citadel's Aaron Walker in his final match of the day to prevent an unblemished day.
"The reality is those first two wins are huge wins for Van Brill," Goodale said. "He's really good."
165-pounder Willie Scott finished as the lone unbeaten for the Scarlet Knights Sunday, posting a 3-0 clip with a pair of bonus-point wins to move to 10-3 on the season.
Nine other Scarlet Knights finished with just one loss at the Tussle: 125-pounders Brandon Paetzell (3-1) and Sean McCabe (3-1), 133-pounder Scott DelVecchio (2-1), No. 5 141-pounder Anthony Ashnault (2-1), 149-pounders Anthony Giraldo (2-1) and No. 10 Ken Theobold (2-1), 165-pounder Anthony Pafumi (2-1), 174-pounder Phillip Bakuckas (2-1), and heavyweight Marc McDonald (2-1).
Ashnault dropped a 2-0 decision to No. 6 Kevin Jack of NC State, falling behind on a second period ride out and third period Jack escape. Jack fought off Ashnault's attacks in the final period to close out the victory. Ashnault moves to 7-2 overall.
Theobold also dropped a tight match to a ranked opponent, losing by an 8-1 score to No. 16 Sam Speno (NC State). Scrambling early on, Theobold fell victim to a takedown and four-point near fall and was unable to recover.
At 174 pounds, Bakuckas suffered a takedown and four-point near fall in the third period of a 10-0 loss to No. 3 Casey Kent (Penn).
197-pounders Matthew Correnti and Anthony Messner both ended their days with victories, while 174-pounder Jordan Pagano opened the tournament with a 6-0 decision over Penn's Quintin Hiles.
"We have to wrestle the same way all the time," Goodale said. "We wrestle a really good guy and we're not the same all the way up the lineup. It's early, so we'll take it, move on, and get ready for Maryland."
Rutgers (5-1) is in dual action next Sunday, Dec. 11 at Maryland (1-3) in the team's Big Ten Conference opener. The noon dual will be televised live on Big Ten Network, one of four TV matches this season for the Scarlet Knights.
Brandon Paetzell | Freshman | 125 Pounds | 3-1
| Michael Russo (Brown) | W-D, 4-1 |
| No. 13 Nathan Kraisser (Campbell) | L-D, 7-1 |
| Jacob Martin (Hofstra) | W-MD, 10-1 |
| Charlie Lenox (NC State) | W-D, 6-2 |
Sean McCabe | Redshirt Senior | 125 Pounds | 3-1
| Donald Keeley (Brown) | W-D, 4-1 |
| Charlie Lenox (NC State) | W-D, 6-2 |
| Patrick Hearney (Citadel) | W-D, 8-2 |
| No. 13 Nathan Kraisser (Campbell) | L-D, 4-0 |
Scott DelVecchio | Redshirt Junior | 133 Pounds | 2-1
| Paul Ambrose (Campbell) | W-F, 3:56 |
| Vinny Vespa (Hofstra) | W-D, 9-4 |
| Sean Fausz (NC State) | L-D, 7-2 |
Anthony Ashnault | Redshirt Junior | 141 Pounds | 2-1
| Connor Burkert (Hofstra) | W-F, 1:38 |
| Ezekiel Salvo (Brown) | W-TF, 17-1 |
| No. 6 Kevin Jack (NC State) | L-D, 2-0 |
Ken Theobold | Redshirt Senior | 149 Pounds | 2-1
| Ty Buckiso (Citadel) | W-MD, 11-2 |
| Beau Donohue (NC State) | W-D, 5-4 |
| No. 16 Sam Speno (NC State) | L-D, 8-1 |
Anthony Giraldo | Redshirt Sophomore | 149 Pounds | 2-1
| Ryan Burkert (Hofstra) | W-D,6-2 |
| No. 16 Sam Speno (NC State) | L-D, 9-6 |
| Beau Donohue (NC State) | W-D, 16-11 |
John Van Brill | Redshirt Sophomore | 157 Pounds | 2-1
| No. 4 Max Rohskopf (NC State) | W-F, 5:45 |
| No. 16 May Bethea (Penn) | W-D, 4-2 |
| Aaron Walker (Citadel) | L-D, 12-10 (SV) |
Willie Scott | Redshirt Freshman | 165 Pounds | 3-0
| Quentin Perez (Campbell) | W-MD, 16-4 |
| Jason Carr (Citadel) | W-TF, 15-0 |
| Bobby Fehr (Hofstra) | W-D, 6-1 |
Anthony Pafumi | Redshirt Senior | 165 Pounds | 2-1
| Russ Hill (Citadel) | W-D, 3-0 |
| Joe Velliquette (Penn) | L-MD, 10-1 |
| Richard Muniz (Brown) | W-D, 17-12 |
Phillip Bakuckas | Redshirt Senior | 174 Pounds | 2-1
| Lee Davis (NC State) | W-D, 6-1 |
| Jonathan Viruet (Brown) | W-MD, 10-1 |
| No. 3 Casey Kent (Penn) | L-MD, 10-0 |
Jordan Pagano | Redshirt Sophomore | 174 Pounds | 1-2
| Quinton Hiles (Penn) | W-D, 6-0 |
| No. 3 Casey Kent (Penn) | L-D, 6-0 |
| Lee Davis (NC State) | L-D, 3-2 |
Matthew Correnti | Freshman | 197 Pounds | 1-2
| No. 14 Frank Mattiace (Penn) | L-D, 6-1 |
| Sawyer Root (Citadel) | L-D, 6-1 |
| Rob Ng (Penn) | W-MD, 16-6 |
Anthony Messner | Redshirt junior | 197 Pounds | 1-2
| Josh Durso-Finley (Brown) | L-D, 3-1 |
| Jalen Laughlin (Penn) | L-D, 3-1 |
| Tucker Ziegler (Brown) | W-D, 8-4 |
Marc McDonald | Sophomore | HWT | 2-1
| Joe Bexley (Citadel) | W-D, 2-1 |
| Jere Heino (Campbell) | L-D, 10-4 |
| Tyler Hall (Penn) | W-D, 9-3 |
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.
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