Six Place for No. 18 Wrestling at Midlands Championships

Friday, December 30

Evanston, Ill.

All Day

Rutgers

2022 Ken Kraft Midlands Championships

Photo by: Sam Janicki

Six Place for No. 18 Wrestling at Midlands Championships

Dec 30 | Wrestling

Full Results Day One Recap

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – No. 18 Rutgers wrestling closed out action at the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships on Friday in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Six Scarlet Knights placed at the two-day tournament, highlighted by a bronze from No. 14 Sammy Alvarez (141).

Along with Alvarez's third-place finish, No. 12 Brian Soldano (184) and No. 18 Dean Peterson (125) placed fourth, No. 9 Joe Heilmann (133) finished fifth, Andrew Clark (157) placed sixth and No. 23 Boone McDermott (HWT) finished eighth. As a team, RU placed seventh with 85 team points.

Alvarez finished his impressive run to a bronze medal thanks to a 6-1 record against the field. In his third-place match, the Garfield, New Jersey, earned a 10-5 decision – highlighted by a four-point tilt in the second period – over two-time NCAA qualifier Brian Courtney (Unattached-Virginia).

Session IV Placement Results
141 (Third Place): No. 14 Sammy Alvarez (RU) over Brian Courtney (Unattached-Virginia) by dec., 10-5
184 (Third Place): Neil Antrassian (Virginia) over No. 12 Brian Soldano (RU) by dec., 12-6
125 (Third Place): Diego Sotelo (Harvard) MFF over No. 18 Dean Peterson (RU)
133 (Fifth Place): Joe Heilmann (RU) MFF over Ryan Crookman (Lehigh)
157 (Fifth Place): No. 16 Garrett Model (Wisconsin) over Andrew Clark (RU) by dec., 3-0
HWT (Seventh Place): Ben Goldin (Penn) MFF over Boone McDermott (RU)

Also wrestling for third, Soldano lost by 12-6 decision to Neil Antrassian (Virginia) to finish fourth at his first Midlands Championships.

Several other Scarlet Knights registered impressive outings on the backside the of the bracket. Heilmann picked up back-to-back decisions over Evan MOugalian (Penn) and Hunter Adrian (Brown) en route to his fifth-place bout, where he recorded a win by medical forfeit over Ryan Crookham (Lehigh). After a tough 6-2 loss to No. 7 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin), Peterson collected a 10-6 decision over Jack Medley (Michigan).

Alvarez and Soldano were two of four Scarlet Knights – along with Clark and Peterson – to wrestle in semifinal bouts during Friday's morning session, as both lost tight decisions on the front side of the bracket. Soldano lost by 7-0 decision to reigning NCAA Division III national champion Jarritt Shinhoster (UW-Whitewater), while Alvarez lost a tight 3-2 decision to 2022 NCAA qualifier Josh Edmond (Unattached-Missouri).

Alvarez and Soldano responded in their consolation semifinal bouts. Soldano muscled a 5-2 decision over Dylan Connell (Illinois) to reach the third-place match, while Alvarez won by 8-4 decision over Ryan Michaels (Pittsburgh).

Up Next
Rutgers will wrestle in its final two non-conference duals before its Big Ten Conference schedule, competing at Bloomsburg on Friday, Jan. 6 and at Rider on Sunday, Jan. 8.

Final Results
Sammy Alvarez (141) – Third
Champ. Round 1 - Sammy Alvarez (Rutgers) won in sudden victory - 1 over Ryan Michaels (Pittsburgh) (SV-1 14-10)
Champ. Round 2 - Sammy Alvarez (Rutgers) won by decision over Jackson Polo (Penn) (Dec 3-2)
Champ. Round 3 - Sammy Alvarez (Rutgers) won by fall over Joseph Cangro (Harvard) (Fall 2:13)
Quarterfinal - Sammy Alvarez (Rutgers) won by major decision over Danny Pucino (Illinois) (Maj 12-2)
Semifinal - Josh Edmond (Missouri) won by decision over Sammy Alvarez (Rutgers) (Dec 3-2)
Cons. Semi - Sammy Alvarez (Rutgers) won by decision over Ryan Michaels (Pittsburgh) (Dec 8-4)
3rd Place Match - Sammy Alvarez (Rutgers) won by decision over Brian Courtney (Unattached ) (Dec 10-5)

Brian Soldano (184) – Fourth Place
Champ. Round 1 - Brian Soldano (Rutgers) won by major decision over Tyler Kocak (George Mason) (Maj 9-1)
Champ. Round 2 - Brian Soldano (Rutgers) won by decision over Maximus Hale (Penn) (Dec 4-3)
Champ. Round 3 - Brian Soldano (Rutgers) won by fall over Shane Moran (Omega Training Center) (Fall 2:30)
Quarterfinal - Brian Soldano (Rutgers) won by fall over Evan Bates (Northwestern) (Fall 3:54)
Semifinal - Jaritt Shinhoster (UW-Whitewater) won by decision over Brian Soldano (Rutgers) (Dec 7-0)
Cons. Semi - Brian Soldano (Rutgers) won by decision over Dylan Connell (Illinois) (Dec 5-2)
3rd Place Match - Neil Antrassian (Virginia) won by decision over Brian Soldano (Rutgers) (Dec 12-6)

Dean Peterson (125) – Fourth Place
Champ. Round 1 - Dean Peterson (Rutgers) won by major decision over Michael Spangler (Indiana) (Maj 9-0)
Champ. Round 2 - Dean Peterson (Rutgers) won by decision over Spencer Moore (North Carolina) (Dec 3-2)
Quarterfinal - Dean Peterson (Rutgers) won by decision over Ryan Miller (Penn) (Dec 3-2)
Semifinal - Eric Barnett (Wisconsin) won by decision over Dean Peterson (Rutgers) (Dec 6-2)
Cons. Semi - Dean Peterson (Rutgers) won by decision over Jack Medley (Michigan) (Dec 10-6)
3rd Place Match - Diego Sotelo (Harvard) won by medical forfeit over Dean Peterson (Rutgers) (MFF)

Joe Heilmann (133) – Fifth Place
Champ. Round 1 - Joe Heilman (Rutgers) received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Joe Heilman (Rutgers) won by major decision over Griffin Seyfried (U. of Chicago) (Maj 10-1)
Champ. Round 3 - Joe Heilman (Rutgers) won by major decision over Nico Nardone (Penn) (Maj 10-1)
Quarterfinal - Ryan Crookham (Lehigh) won by decision over Joe Heilman (Rutgers) (Dec 2-1)
Cons. Round 6 - Joe Heilman (Rutgers) won by decision over Evan Mougalian (Penn) (Dec 3-0)
Cons. Round 7 - Joe Heilman (Rutgers) won by decision over Hunter Adrian (Brown) (Dec 5-3)
Cons. Semi - Lucas Byrd (Illinois) won by decision over Joe Heilman (Rutgers) (Dec 8-1)
5th Place Match - Joe Heilman (Rutgers) won by medical forfeit over Ryan Crookham (Lehigh) (MFF)

Andrew Clark (157) – Sixth Place
Champ. Round 1 - Andrew Clark (Rutgers) received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Andrew Clark (Rutgers) won by decision over Nic Sansone (Virginia) (Dec 7-4)
Champ. Round 3 - Andrew Clark (Rutgers) won in sudden victory - 1 over Jared Hill (Oklahoma) (SV-1 2-1)
Quarterfinal - Andrew Clark (Rutgers) won in sudden victory - 1 over Anthony Artalona (Penn) (SV-1 5-3)
Semifinal - Drew Scharenbrock (Wisconsin) won by decision over Andrew Clark (Rutgers) (Dec 3-2)
Cons. Semi - Derek Gilcher (Indiana) won by decision over Andrew Clark (Rutgers) (Dec 6-2)
5th Place Match - Garrett Model (Wisconsin) won by decision over Andrew Clark (Rutgers) (Dec 3-0)

Boone McDermott (HWT) – Eighth Place
Champ. Round 1 - Boone Mcdermott (Rutgers) won by decision over Daniel Bucknavich (Cleveland State) (Dec 5-3)
Champ. Round 2 - Boone Mcdermott (Rutgers) won by decision over Ryan Boersma (Missouri) (Dec 4-1)
Quarterfinal - Trent Hillger (Wisconsin) won by decision over Boone Mcdermott (Rutgers) (Dec 6-0)
Cons. Round 4 - Boone Mcdermott (Rutgers) won by decision over Tyrie Houghton (NC State) (Dec 5-3)
Cons. Round 5 - Colton Schultz (Arizona State) won by decision over Boone Mcdermott (Rutgers) (Dec 5-3)
7th Place Match - Ben Goldin (Penn) won by medical forfeit over Boone Mcdermott (Rutgers) (MFF)

Dylan Shawver (125)
Champ. Round 1 - Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) won by major decision over Patrick McCormick (Virginia) (Maj 9-0)
Champ. Round 2 - Markel Baker (George Mason) won by decision over Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) (Dec 4-2)
Cons. Round 2 - Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) won by fall over Shay Horton (Thomas More) (Fall 1:03)
Cons. Round 3 - Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) won by decision over Nicholas Kayal (Princeton) (Dec 9-2)
Cons. Round 4 - Sheldon Seymour (Lehigh) won by decision over Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) (Dec 5-3)

Devon Britton (133)
Champ. Round 1 - Gabe Vidlak (Oklahoma) won by decision over Devon Britton (Rutgers) (Dec 11-8)
Cons. Round 1 - Devon Britton (Rutgers) received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - Devon Britton (Rutgers) won by decision over Elon Rodriguez (Triton Junior College) (Dec 4-2)
Cons. Round 3 - Eric Lovelace (Missouri) won by decision over Devon Britton (Rutgers) (Dec 6-1)

Joseph Olivieri (141-Unattached)
Champ. Round 1 - Joe Olivieri (Rutgers) won by fall over Michael Dolan (West Virginia) (Fall 5:55)
Champ. Round 2 - Joe Olivieri (Rutgers) won by fall over Kenny Herrmann (Harvard) (Fall 1:16)
Champ. Round 3 - Joe Olivieri (Rutgers) won by decision over Carmen Ferrante (Penn) (Dec 3-1)
Quarterfinal - Cole Matthews (Pittsburgh) won by decision over Joe Olivieri (Rutgers) (Dec 2-1)
Cons. Round 6 - Josh Mason (Bloomsburg) won by decision over Joe Olivieri (Rutgers) (Dec 3-0)

Tony White (149)
Champ. Round 1 - Jude Swisher (Pennsylvania RTC) won by decision over Anthony White (Rutgers) (Dec 3-1)
Cons. Round 1 - Anthony White (Rutgers) received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - John Wiley (Oklahoma) won by decision over Anthony White (Rutgers) (Dec 11-10)

Al DeSantis (157)
Champ. Round 1 - Alfred Desantis (Rutgers) won by decision over Trevor Tarsi (Harvard) (Dec 4-3)
Champ. Round 2 - Alfred Desantis (Rutgers) won by decision over Brody Hallin (Omega Training Center) (Dec 6-1)
Champ. Round 3 - Trevor Chumbley (Northwestern) won by major decision over Alfred Desantis (Rutgers) (Maj 14-1)
Cons. Round 4 - Alfred Desantis (Rutgers) won by decision over Nic Sansone (Virginia) (Dec 7-6)
Cons. Round 5 - Aiden Vandenbush (Northwestern) won by decision over Alfred Desantis (Rutgers) (Dec 8-4)

Dylan Weaver (157)
Champ. Round 1 - Dylan Weaver (Rutgers) received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Nick Vafiadis (Navy Prep) won by fall over Dylan Weaver (Rutgers) (Fall 2:52)
Cons. Round 2 - Dylan Weaver (Rutgers) received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Dylan Weaver (Rutgers) won by medical forfeit over Nick Sanko (Virginia) (MFF)
Cons. Round 4 - Dylan Weaver (Rutgers) won by fall over Cam Picklo (Oklahoma) (Fall 0:42)
Cons. Round 5 - Alejandro Herrera-Rondon (Oklahoma) won by fall over Dylan Weaver (Rutgers) (Fall 0:55)

Connor O'Neill (165)
Champ. Round 1 - Connor O`Neill (Rutgers) received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Dan Braunagel (Illinois) won by major decision over Connor O`Neill (Rutgers) (Maj 14-4)
Cons. Round 2 - Blaine Bergey (Princeton) won by decision over Connor O`Neill (Rutgers) (Dec 8-3)

Luke Gayer (165)
Champ. Round 1 - Luke Gayer (Rutgers) received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Luke Gayer (Rutgers) won by major decision over Ryan Vedner (UW-Whitewater) (Maj 8-0)
Champ. Round 3 - Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin) won by fall over Luke Gayer (Rutgers) (Fall 5:32)
Cons. Round 4 - Luke Gayer (Rutgers) won by major decision over Bradley Gillum (SIU Edwardsville) (Maj 8-0)
Cons. Round 5 - Lucas Revano (Penn) won by decision over Luke Gayer (Rutgers) (Dec 6-3)

Jackson Turley (174)
Champ. Round 1 - James Rowley (Wisconsin) won by decision over Jackson Turley (Rutgers) (Dec 7-1)
Cons. Round 1 - Jackson Turley (Rutgers) won by decision over Ankha Enkhmandakh (Northwestern) (Dec 10-7)
Cons. Round 2 - Scott Joll (West Virginia) won by major decision over Jackson Turley (Rutgers) (Maj 15-2)

John O'Donnell (HWT)
Champ. Round 1 - Peter Christensen (Wisconsin) won by decision over John O`Donnell (Rutgers) (Dec 2-0)
Cons. Round 1 - Vincenzo Pelusi (Franklin & Marshall) won by decision over John O`Donnell (Rutgers) (Dec 2-1)