WASHINGTON, D.C. – No. 12 Rutgers wrestling (9-0) dominated American (0-4) by a score of 41-3 in a dual on Friday evening at Bender Arena. The Scarlet Knights won nine of the 10 matches, including six by bonus points, to remain undefeated.
Michael VanBrill (149) scored his first fall of the season with 25 seconds remaining in the second period in his bout with Patrick Ryan.
Sebastian Rivera (141),
Robert Kanniard (157),
John Poznanski (184), and
Greg Bulsak (197) all stopped their matches early with tech falls over their Eagle opponents.
- Rutgers won nine out of 10 matches against American to open the night, which included eight consecutive wins from 141 through heavyweight to close the evening. Dylan Shawver (125) opened the dual with a 5-4 decision after escaping a late reversal with 30 seconds remaining in the third period.
- The Scarlet Knights' dominant run started with Rivera at 141, where the Toms River, New Jersey native piled up back points and riding time for the 21-3 tech fall in the second period.
- VanBrill mounted the momentum with a second-period pin after a scoreless first at 149. Kanniard kept it rolling at 157 with takedowns, back points, and riding time locked up in the second to coast to a 17-2 tech fall in the third.
- Andrew Clark (165) cemented a comeback after trailing 3-0 going into the third. Starting bottom, he escaped, scored the takedown for the tie, and rode out the period to eclipse the riding time point for a 4-3 decision.
- Connor O'Neill (174) worked a near-fall in a tough cradle for a large portion of the first, taking a 6-0 lead. He survived a comeback attempt in the third and held on for the 10-7 decision.
- Poznanski scored four takedowns and racked up 10 back points in the first to lead 18-4. He escaped bottom position in the opening seconds of the second period for the 20-4 tech fall.
- Bulsak did not concede a point, working a consistent takedown and tilt strategy for the 16-0 tech.
- Boone McDermott (285) finished the night on a winning note, taking a 9-1 lead into the final period and taking advantage of an unsportsmanlike penalty as the American wrestler was disqualified on penalities, handing Rutgers six team points to close the evening.
- Rutgers is 9-0 to begin the dual season, matching its best start since a 9-0 beginning to the 2014-15 campaign, its first full season in the Big Ten Conference.
- RU's 38-point margin of victory was its largest over a Division I opponent since a 43-3 win over LIU in the 2019-20 season opener at the RU Quad on Nov. 2, 2019.
- With 91 wins, Rivera is nine victories away from 100 for his career. Bulsak needs 17 more this season to eclipse 100 for his career.
- All seven of Rivera's wins this season have come with bonus points.
- The Scarlet Knights picked up six wins by bonus in the dual victories, including VanBrill's first win by fall of the season and tech falls from Rivera, Kanniard, Poznanski, and Bulsak.
- Poznanski and Rivera remain tied for the team-lead with 37 dual points.
- Rutgers improved to 13-1 all-time against American, stretching the win streak to seven in a row.
- Head coach Scott Goodale picked up career win No. 192 as the countdown to 200 shrinks to eight.
Rutgers returns to Jersey Mike's Arena for a dual with Army on Fri., Dec. 10 at 7 p.m., streaming live on B1G+.
No. 12 Rutgers 41, American 3
125: #23/HM
Dylan Shawver (RU) dec. Andy Fallon (AU), 5-4 (RU 3-0)
133: Jack Maida (AU) dec.
Devon Britton (RU), 6-2 (Tied, 3-3)
141: #4/3
Sebastian Rivera (RU) tech. fall Ethan Szerencsits (AU), 20-3 (RU 8-3)
149: #25/24
Michael VanBrill (RU) pinned Patrick Ryan (AU), 4:35 (RU 14-3)
157: Robert Kanniard (RU) tech. fall Antonio Segura (AU), 17-2 (RU 19-3)
165: Andrew Clark (RU) dec. Tim Fitzpatrick (AU), 4-3 (RU 22-3)
174: Connor O'Neill (RU) dec. Colin Shannon (AU), 10-7 (RU 25-3)
184: #5/5
John Poznanski (RU) tech. fall Mervin Mancia (AU), 19-4 (RU 30-3)
197: #13/17
Greg Bulsak (RU) tech. fall Carsten Rawls (AU), 16-0 (RU 35-3)
285: #24/HM
Boone McDermott (RU) over Isaac Righter (AU), penalty DQ (RU 41-3)
