PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 13 Rutgers wrestling (10-2, 3-1) hosts No. 9 Minnesota (5-2, 0-2) on Saturday at Jersey Mike's Arena. The dual is set for 1 p.m. and will stream on Big Ten Plus, with Nick Kosko and Matt Howe on the call.
 
Saturday's dual with the top-10 Gophers features eight potential ranked-vs.-ranked matchups and marks the second of three top-10 programs to visit Piscataway this season along with No. 8 Virginia Tech and No. 7 Ohio State (Sunday, February 4). Fans can purchase single-match tickets here.
 
Saturday is Letterwinner Appreciation Day at Jersey Mike's Arena, as the program will recognize alumni throughout the match. Letterwinners are also invited to a post-match social at the RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center. More details can be found here.
 

Last Time Out

• The Scarlet Knights split their road matches last weekend, defeating Michigan State, 22-13, last Friday in East Lansing before losing at No. 11 Michigan, 23-10, on Sunday in Ann Arbor. In total, RU collected nine individual wins across the two duals, which included two apiece from No. 9 John Poznanski (197), No. 13 Jackson Turley (174) and Michael Cetta (149).
• Rutgers used a 6-4 match split for its road win against the Spartans, which moved the Scarlet Knights to 3-0 in the Big Ten Conference for the first time in program history. Poznanski and No. 8 Dylan Shawver picked up tech falls in the win.
• RU followed with a 23-10 loss to the Wolverines, with Poznanski earning a major decision and Cetta and Turley adding decisions.

Projected Lineups

No. 13 Rutgers (10-2, 3-1)
125: 16/20 Dean Peterson (8-3)
133: 8/11 Dylan Shawver (17-4)
141: 20/15 Mitch Moore (10-2)
149: Michael Cetta (11-4)
157: NR/29 Andrew Clark (6-4) -OR- Al DeSantis (5-9) -OR- Jacob Butler (3-2)
165: Anthony White (9-9) -OR- Luke Gayer (9-8)
174: 13/17 Jackson Turley (8-2) -OR- Shane Cartagena-Walsh (8-3)
184: 22/24 Brian Soldano (10-6)
197: 9/11 John Poznanski (12-0)
HWT: 7/7 Yaraslau Slavikouski (13-1)
 
No. 9 Minnesota (5-2, 0-2)
125: 11/14 Patrick McKee (9-3)
133: 26/23 Tyler Wells (9-2) -OR- Jake Gliva (5-2)
141: 21/23 Vance VomBaur (10-4)
149: 13/NR Drew Roberts (13-4)
157: 6/6 Michael Blockhus (9-1)
165: 29/NR Blaine Brenner (13-7) -OR- Hunter Lyden (7-3)
174: Sam Skillings (8-4)
184: 6/6 Isaiah Salazar (13-1) -OR- Max McEnelly (14-0)
197: 24/26 Garrett Joles (12-6)
HWT: 29/33 Bennett Tabor (14-4)
 

What to Know

• With its win over Michigan State last Friday, Rutgers has produced 10 or more dual wins in a season for the 15th time under head coach Scott Goodale.
• The No. 9 Gophers represent the first of three consecutive opponents for Rutgers ranked in the top 10 of the latest NWCA Coaches Poll. The Scarlet Knights will also host No. 7 Ohio State on February 4 before they wrestle at No. 1 Penn State on February 12 in State College. RU has already wrestled three ranked teams this season – No. 8 Virginia Tech, No. 11 Michigan and No. 21 Indiana.
• A win over Minnesota would be the program's first against a top-10 opponent since it defeated No. 10 Wisconsin on January 11, 2019, in Piscataway.
• The first NCAA coaches' ranking was released earlier this week. Rutgers features nine wrestlers within the top 33 of their respective weight classes, including six in the top 16 – No. 5 Yaraslau Slavikouski (HWT), No. 7 Dylan Shawver (133), No. 8 John Poznanski (197), No. 11 Mitch Moore (141), No. 13 Jackson Turley (174) and No. 16 Dean Peterson (125).
• With a perfect 12-0 record, Poznanski is undefeated heading into the final five duals of the season. Poznanski leads the team with 51 dual points and owns nine wins via bonus points.
• Shawver leads the team with 58 takedowns and 17 wins.

Scouting Minnesota & Series History

• The Gophers own a 5-2 dual record this season after they lost to No. 6 Nebraska, 19-14, this past Friday in their last time out.
• Minnesota features nine individuals ranked in at least one poll, including No. 6 Michael Blockhus (157) and No. 6 Isaiah Salazar (184). Blockhus recorded wins over the No. 2 and No. 3 wrestlers last week in his duals with Iowa and Nebraska.
• The Gophers sent nine to nationals last season, where Blockhus earned All-America laurels under head coach Brandon Eggum.
• Minnesota leads the all-time series with Rutgers, 5-0. The Gophers earned a 21-18 win over the Scarlet Knights in their last meeting on January 31, 2021 in Piscataway.

Up Next

• Rutgers hosts No. 7 Ohio State on Sunday, February 4 at Jersey Mike's Arena. The dual is set for 1 p.m. and will stream on Big Ten Plus.