PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 16 Rutgers wrestling (12-1, 2-1) defeated No. 21 Illinois (2-1, 0-1), 21-13, on Friday night at Jersey Mike's Arena. No. 3
Sebastian Rivera (141) secured his 100th career win in front of 3,318 fans, while No. 31
Dylan Shawver (125), No. 5
John Poznanski (184) and No. 7
Greg Bulsak (197) all added wins over ranked opponents.
Michael VanBrill (149) and
Robert Kanniard (157) also produced wins over the Illini to help the Scarlet Knights to a six-four match split.
"Any time you get a Big Ten win, it is exciting. They were a really tough team and one that has had our number. We won we're we needed to win. Shawver was huge to start the dual and we got off to a great start. We scored where we needed to score." - Head coach
Scott Goodale
- Shawver faced No. 26 Justin Cardani in a swing match to open the dual. The freshman worked a takedown with 15 seconds to go in the first period, added an escape point in the second and held Cardani - an NCAA qualifier - scoreless in the final period for a 3-1 decision.
- Illinois earned its only team lead of the night after No.6 Lucas Byrd defeated No. 20 Joseph Olivieri (133) by major decision, 13-2. The major made it 4-3 Illini two bouts in.
- Rivera showed by he is one of the most dominant wrestlers in the country during his match with We Rachal. Rivera picked up two takedowns in the first period, followed by a rideout in the second period that saw Rachal hit for three consecutive stall calls. Rivera closed the match with a 14-point third period to earn a 22-7 tech fall, his team-high eighth of the season.
- Decisions from VanBrill and Kanniard followed, as RU held a 14-4 advantage through five duals.
- Illinois would get to within four of the team score with back-to-back wins out of intermission before Rutgers put the dual away with wins at 184 and 197. Poznanski wrestled hard in a 6-2 decision over two-time NCAA qualifier Zac Braunagel. Bulsak followed with a 9-1 major decision over No. 29 Matt Wroblewski.
- Bulsak's team-leading eighth win over a ranked foe made it 21-10, while a hard-fought loss from Boone McDermott (HWT) against No. 17 Luke Luffman produced the 21-13 final result.
- Rivera became the 18th wrestler in program history to hit the 100 win mark for his collegiate career. He is believed to be the first to hit the century mark at Rutgers after beginning his career at a different university. Rivera earned 73 career wins at Northwestern and owns 27 "On the Banks".
- Rivera owns a 100% bonus rate in his 15 matches this season, which includes eight tech falls, three major decisions, two pins and two forfeits. He has outscored his opponents 180-32 this season.
- Bulsak, Poznanski and Rivera are a combined 43-0 this season with wins over 18 ranked foes.
- Goodale is now five wins away from 200 for his career.
- Rutgers moved to 2-3 all-time against Illinois. The programs have only met as Big Ten Conference opponents. RU's last win over the Illini came on Jan. 6, 2017.
- Rutgers has wrestled in front of 3,000 plus in each of its first four home dates this season. The Scarlet Knights have averaged 4,081 fans per home event this season, highlighted by 6,635 against Army on Dec. 10 in Piscataway.
- Rutgers faces No. 1 Penn State on Sunday in State College. The road tilt is slated for a 5 p.m. ET national broadcast on ESPNU.
No. 16 Rutgers 21, No. 21 Illinois 13
125: 31/HM/NR
Dylan Shawver (RU) over 26/24/NR Justin Cardani (ILL) by decision, 3-1; RU leads, 3-0
133: 6/5/5 Lucas Byrd (ILL) over 20/HM 20/HM/NR
Joseph Olivieri (RU) by MD, 13-2; ILL leads, 4-3
141: 3/3/3
Sebastian Rivera (RU) over We Rachal (ILL) by TF, 22-7; RU leads, 8-4
149: 18/HM/NR
Michael VanBrill (RU) over Christian Kanzler (ILL) by decision, 3-2; RU leads, 11-4
157: Robert Kanniard (RU) over Joe Roberts (ILL) by decision, 7-4; RU leads, 14-4
165: 27/HM/NR Danny Braunagel (ILL) over
Andrew Clark (RU) by decision, 9-3; RU leads, 14-7
174: NR/22/NR DJ Shannon (ILL) over
Connor O'Neill (RU) by decision, 7-5; RU leads, 14-10
184: 5/5/5
John Poznanski (RU) over 19/18/NR Zach Braunagel (ILL) by decision, 5-2; RU leads, 17-10
197: 7/11/8
Greg Bulsak (RU) over 29/20/NR Matt Wroblewski (ILL) by MD, 9-1; RU leads, 21-10
HWT: 17/17/17 Luke Luffman (ILL) over
Boone McDermott (RU) by decision, 7-2; RU wins 21-13
Extra Matches
157: Al DeSantis (RU) over Jake Reicin (UI) by TF, 19-4
