No. 12 Wrestling Squares Off with American Friday Night in Nation’s Capital

Friday, December 3

Washington, D.C.

7:30 PM

Rutgers University

American

Photo by: (Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics)

No. 12 Wrestling Squares Off with American Friday Night in Nation’s Capital

Dec 01 | Wrestling

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PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Off to its best start since 2014, Rutgers wrestling (8-0) hits the road for an out-of-conference dual with American on Friday in Washington, D.C. The dual is set for a 7:30 p.m. start at Bender Arena and will stream via ESPN+.

All fans 12 and older who plan to attend Friday's road dual will need to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter Bender Arena. Masking inside Bender Arena will remain mandatory for spectators regardless of vaccination status. More information on American's COVID-19 policies can be found here.

PROJECTED LINEUP: RUTGERS

Weight	Wrestler
125	23/HM Dylan Shawver (7-0)
133	11/24 Sammy Alvarez (6-1) -OR- Devon Britton (6-2)
141	4/3 Sebastian Rivera (6-0)
149	25/24 Michael VanBrill (7-0)
157	Robert Kanniard (4-2)
165	Andrew Clark (6-7) -OR- Gerard Angelo (1-0)
174	15/16 Jackson Turley (0-1) -OR- Connor O'Neill (4-3)
184	5/5 John Poznanski (8-0)
197	13/17 Greg Bulsak (6-0) -OR- Kyle Epperly (5-2)
HWT	24/HM Boone McDermott (5-1)

Rankings Intermat/FloWrestling

PROJECTED LINEUP: AMERICAN

Weight	Wrestler
125	Max Leete -OR- Andy Fallon
133	Jack Maida
141	Ethan Szerencsits
149	Patrick Ryan
157	Antonio Segura
165	Tim Fitzpatrick
174	Colin Shannon -OR- Ben Root
184	Mervin Mancia
197	Will Jarrell -OR Carsten Rawls
HWT	Isaac Righter

Rankings Intermat/FloWrestling

WHAT TO KNOW

In their last time out, the Scarlet Knights defeated No. 14 North Carolina (28-9) and Hofstra (35-6) last Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark.
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.
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.
Through the first four weeks of the season, RU remained as high as No. 12 in the country. The Scarlet Knights are No. 12 by Intermat, No. 13 by WIN Magazine, No. 14 in the latest NWCA Coaches Poll and No. 14 by FloWrestling.
With undefeated records, Sebastian Rivera (141) and John Poznanski (184) continue to hold top-five rankings heading into the weekend. Rivera is as high as No. 3 (FloWrestling, The Open Mat and WIN Magazine), while Poznanski is the consensus No. 5 wrestler in the country at his weight. Sammy Alvarez (133) also owns a top-10 ranking at No. 10 by WIN Magazine.
Michael VanBrill (149), Jackson Turley (174) and Greg Bulsak (197) are also ranked by both Intermat and FloWrestling. Bulzak and VanBrill are both undefeated this season, while Turley continues to rehab from injury. Dylan Shawver (125) and Boone McDermott (HWT) are also ranked by Intermat at No. 23 and No. 24, respectively.
Seven Scarlet Knights have racked up 20 or more dual points this season, led by 32 apiece from Poznanski and Rivera. All six of Rivera's dual wins have come by bonus.
With 90 victories, Rivera is 10 away from 100 for his career. Bulsak (82) needs 18 this season to eclipse 100 for his career.
At 191 career wins as head coach Scott Goodale needs nine for 200.

SERIES HISTORY

Rutgers is 12-1 all-time against American, which includes wins in their last six meetings.
Goodale is 5-0 all-time coaching against American.
The programs last met on Jan. 10, 2014 – a 31-6 victory for the Scarlet Knights.
RU's lone loss in the series came on Feb. 11, 2006.

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