PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers wrestling has added two-time NCAA qualifier Yaraslau Slavikouski (HWT) to its 2023-24 roster. Slavikouski (Yar-a-slaw Slow-vuh-cow-ski), a graduate transfer from Harvard, Slavikouski will enroll in the Rutgers Business School as a graduate student and will be immediately eligible for the Scarlet Knights beginning next season.
 
A native of Rechitsa, Belarus, Slavikouski produced 64 career victories for the Crimson at heavyweight, including a 30-6 record this past season. Seeded sixth at the 2023 NCAA Championships earlier this year, Slavikouski picked up three victories and advanced to the 'Blood Round' at the national tournament. Slavikouski also earned a bronze medal at the 2023 EIWA Championships.
 
Slavikouski missed the majority of the 2021-22 season due to injury and did not wrestle in 2020-21 after the Ivy League cancelled all athletic activities that season due to COVID-19. Slavikouski went 30-8 as a freshman in 2019-20, garnering NWCA Second Team All-America laurels and IVY League Rookie of the Year accolades, becoming the first Harvard rookie to earn the honor in 16 years. Slavikouski earned the No. 10 seed at the 2020 NCAA Championships.
 
A member of the Belarus National Team, Slavikouski prepped at Northfield Mount Hermon (Mass.), where he served as a team captain and was a three-time Prep New England Champion. His brother, Valentin, was a four-time World Cup and Baltic Games championship wrestler.
 
Rutgers finished No. 22 in the final 2022-23 NWCA Coaches Poll, the 10^th final top-25 finish for the Scarlet Knights under head coach Scott Goodale. RU produced seven NCAA qualifiers for the second consecutive season and qualified five or more student-athletes to the national tournament for the ninth consecutive season. Rutgers averaged 5,018 fans per home match at Jersey Mike's Arena this season, with its 7,848 fans in attendance against No. 1 Penn State on Feb. 10 marking the second-largest home crowd for a wrestling match at the arena in school history.