NEWARK, N.J. – No. 12 Rutgers wrestling (8-0) defeated No. 14 North Carolina (28-9) and Hofstra (35-6) on Saturday night at the Prudential Center in Newark. The Scarlet Knights are now 8-0 to open the season, the best start for the program since the 2014-15 campaign.
RU won 15 out of 20 individual matchups, which included 2-0 nights from No. 3
Sebastian Rivera (141), No. 5
John Poznanski (184), No. 12
Sammy Alvarez (133), No. 14
Greg Bulsak (197), No. 23
Dylan Shawver (125) and No. 25
Michael VanBrill (149). Bulsak picked up wins over two ranked opponents, while Alvarez, Rivera, Poznanski and
Connor O'Neill (174) all added pins.
"It was an awesome atmosphere here tonight," said head coach
Scott Goodale. "We showed we're a really capable team. There's a lot of work to do and a lot to clean up, but I'm so happy to be back wrestling a normal dual schedule."
- Rutgers won eight out of 10 matches against Hofstra to open the night, which included five consecutive wins from 125 through 157 pounds. Alvarez and Rivera worked back-to-back falls against the Pride to give the Scarlet Knights a 15-0 lead through three matches. VanBrill followed with a 17-0 tech fall against Mike Leandrou and Al DeSantis (157) added an 8-2 decision to make it 23-0 midway through.
- RU closed the dual with wins in three out of four weights. O'Neill pinned Ericson Velesquez in the first period, Poznanski muscled an 8-2 decision over 2021 NCAA qualifier Charles Small and Bulsak collected an 8-3 decision over No. 29 Trey Rodgers. The dominant outing resulted in a 35-6 team win.
- Rutgers rolled right into its match against the Tar Heels, opened with an impressive overtime decision from Shawver. Tied 5-5 in sudden victory, Shawver hit Spencer Moore with a re-attack at the edge of the circle to exit with a 7-5 decision and his second win of the night.
- Alvarez followed with a 6-2 decision over three-time NJSIAA state placer Joe Heillman, and a forfeit win from Rivera and a 12-1 major from VanBrill against Mason Phillips once again gave the Scarlet Knights a commanding 16-0 lead to begin the dual.
- Robert Kanniard (157) took on reigning NCAA champion Austin O'Conner and wrestled him tough in a 12-6 loss. Kanniard landed the first takedown of the match and reversed O'Conner in the third period to hold his opponent to just a decision.
- RU suffered losses at 165 and 174 before it closed with three dominant wins. Poznanski pinned Mark Chaid in the second period of his bout, Bulsak won his second consecutive ranked matchup with an 8-2 decision over No. 26 Max Shaw and Boone McDermott (HWT) wrestled to a 9-3 decision over Brandon Whitman en route to a 28-9 dual win over the Tar Heels.
- Rutgers is 8-0 to begin the dual season, its best start since it started 9-0 to begin the 2014-15 campaign, its first full season in the Big Ten Conference.
- RU's 28-9 victory over No. 14 North Carolina was its first over a ranked opponent since Feb. 14, 2020 against No. 25 Northwestern, its highest-ranked win since it defeated No. 10 Wisconsin, 17-16, on Jan. 11, 2019 in Piscataway and its largest margin of victory (19) over a ranked foe dating back to 2014.
- With 90 wins, Rivera is 10 victories away from 100 for his career. Bulsak needs 18 more this season to eclipse 100 for his career.
- The Scarlet Knights picked up seven wins by bonus in its two dual victories, including two apiece from Rivera and VanBrill.
- Saturday night marked the first time Rutgers competed at the Prudential Center, which is just under 30 miles away from Jersey Mike's Arena.
- Rutgers moved to 5-1 all-time against North Carolina and 16-9-1 all-time against Hofstra.
Rutgers hits the road for an out-of-conference dual with American University on Friday, Dec. 3 in Washington, D.C. The dual is set for a 7:30 p.m. start and will stream via ESPN+.
No. 12 Rutgers 35, Hofstra 6
125: 23/HM
Dylan Shawver (RU) over Jacob Moon (HOF) by dec., 8-1; RU leads, 3-0
133: 12/24
Sammy Alvarez (RU) over Dylan Acevedo (HOF) by fall (0:52); RU leads, 9-0
141: 4/3
Sebastian Rivera (RU) over Justin Hoyle (Hofstra) by fall (2:37); RU leads, 15-0
149: 25/HM
Michael VanBrill (RU) over Mike Leandrou (HOF) by TF, 17-0; RU leads, 20-0
157: Al DeSantis (RU) over Joe McGinty (HOF) by dec., 8-2; RU leads, 23-0
165: Ricky Stamm (HOF) over
Andrew Clark (RU) by dec., 4-3; RU leads, 23-3
174: Connor O'Neill (RU) over Ericson Velesquez (HOF) by fall (0:58); RU leads, 29-3
184: 5/5
John Poznanski (RU) over Charles Small (HOF) by dec., 8-2; RU leads, 32-3
197: 14/16
Greg Bulsak (RU) over 29/HM Trey Rodgers (HOF) by dec., 8-3; RU leads, 35-3
HWT: 20/23 Zack Knighton-Ward (HOF) over 23/HM
Boone McDermott (RU) by dec., 6-1; RU wins, 35-6
No. 12 Rutgers 28, No. 14 North Carolina 9
125: 23/HM
Dylan Shawver (RU) over Spencer Moore (UNC) by SV1, 7-5; RU leads, 3-0
133: 12/24
Sammy Alvarez (RU) over Joe Heilmann (UNC) by dec., 6-2; RU leads, 6-0
141: 4/3
Sebastian Rivera (RU) wins by forfeit; RU leads, 12-0
149: 25/HM
Michael VanBrill (RU) over Mason Phillips (UNC) by MD, 12-1; RU leads, 16-0
157: 7/3 Austin O'Connor (UNC) over
Robert Kanniard (RU) by MD, 12-6; RU leads, 16-3
165: Joey Mazzara (UNC) over
Andrew Clark (RU) by dec., 7-3; RU leads, 16-6
174: 15/16 Clay Lautt (UNC) over
Connor O'Neill (RU) by dec., 4-0; RU leads, 16-9
184: 5/5
John Poznanski (RU) over Mark Chaid (UNC) by fall (3:10); RU leads, 22-9
197: 14/16
Greg Bulsak (RU) over 26/HM Max Shaw (UNC) by dec., 8-2; RU leads, 25-9
HWT: 23/HM
Boone McDermott (RU) over Brandon Whitman (UNC) by dec. 9-3; RU wins, 28-9
