PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 16 Rutgers wrestling looks to secure a team title at the 2024 Ken Kraft Midlands Championships, held Sunday and Monday in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Action at NOW Arena begins Sunday at 10:30 a.m. ET, with all matches streamed on Big Ten Plus.
 
The two-day tournament features wrestlers from 37 programs, including student-athletes from 10 ranked programs and nine Big Ten Conference opponents – No. 5 Ohio State, No. 9 Michigan, No. 11 Illinois, No. 16 Rutgers, No. 25 Indiana, Northwestern, Michigan State, Purdue and Wisconsin.
 

Schedule

Sunday, December 29
10:30 a.m.: First Session (10 Mats) – (Championship Rounds 1 & 2, Wrestlebacks)
8 p.m.: Second Session (10 Mats) – (Quarterfinals, Wrestlebacks)
 
Monday, December 30
11:30 a.m.: Third Session (8 Mats) – (Semifinals)
4 p.m.: Fourth Session (4 Mats) – (Men's 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th place matches)
 

Projected Lineup

No. 16 Rutgers (8-2)
125: 18/15 Dean Peterson (6-2)* | Ayden Smith (2-2)
133: 16/15 Dylan Shawver (7-2)*
141: 20/20 Joseph Olivieri (7-2)* | Joe Fongaro (2-2) | Max Hermes (4-4)
149: 33/30 Andrew Clark (11-4)* | Alex Nini (2-2)
157: 33/NR Conner Harer (7-2)*
165: Andrew Barbosa (2-1)* | 25/27 Anthony White (9-2) | Ryan Ford (2-2)
174: 22/22 Jackson Turley (6-2)*
184: NR/19 Brian Soldano (12-4)* | 29/NR Shane Cartagena-Walsh (10-4)
197: 14/18 John Poznanski (6-1)* | PJ Casale (5-6)
HWT: 5/6 Yaraslau Slavikouski (5-1)* | John O'Donnell (5-1)
Rankings Intermat/Flo
*Results count towards team scoring
 

Last Time Out

• Brian Soldano (184) used three consecutive pins to secure an individual title at the 2024 Sheridan Tournament on December 20 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It marked Soldano's eighth consecutive pin dating back to November 24.
• In dual action, Rutgers added three dual wins to its ledger earlier this month, earning victories over Clarion (38-6), Gardner-Webb (32-6) and Kent State (42-3) in road action.
• The Scarlet Knights won 26 out of 30 bouts across their three dual wins, adding five pins with falls from Brian Soldano (184) (2), John O'Donnell (HWT), John Poznanski (197) and Jackson Turley (174).
• Joseph Olivieri (141) picked up a 4-0 decision over No. 25 Todd Carter (Gardner-Webb) to add a ranked win to his resume.

First Half Highlights

• Rutgers has produced eight wins during the first two months of the seasons, the most among programs ranked in the NWCA Coaches Poll. The Scarlet Knights lone losses of the season have come against No. 6 NC State and No. 7 Virginia Tech.
• RU has already produced 37 pins this season, including a team-high 11 from Soldano.
• All 10 weights are ranked in at least one poll heading into the new year. Soldano and Shane Cartagena-Walsh are both ranked at 184 pounds heading into Midlands, with Cartagena-Walsh as high as No. 16 by Amateur Wrestling News.

In the Rankings

• Rutgers moved up to No. 16 in this week's NWCA Coaches poll, joining fellow Big Ten programs No. 1 Penn State, No. 2 Iowa, No. 4 Nebraska, No. 5 Ohio State, No. 7 Minnesota, No. 9 Michigan, No. 11 Illinois and No. 25 Indiana. The Scarlet Knights face five of those teams during the Big Ten dual season – Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio State and Penn State.
• Eleven Scarlet Knights appear in at least one poll during week three of the regular season. Yaraslau Slavikouski (HWT) is ranked as high as No. 5 nationally (Intermat), while Dean Peterson (125), Dylan Shawver (133) and John Poznanski (197) all own at least on top 12 ranking.

Wrestler	Intermat	FloWrestling	The Open Mat	AWN	WIN
Dean Peterson (125)	18	15	14	16	12
Dylan Shawver (133)	16	15	12	14	16
Joseph Olivieri (141)	20	20	20	18	19
Andrew Clark (149)	33	30	NR	NR	NR
Conner Harer (157)	33	NR	NR	NR	NR
Anthony White (165)	25	27	NR	NR	NR
Jackson Turley (174)	22	22	NR	NR	20
Shane Cartagena-Walsh (184)	29	NR	NR	16	NR
Brian Soldano (184)	NR	19	NR	NR	NR
John Poznanski (197)	14	18	14	16	11
Yaraslau Slavikouski (HWT)	5	6	6	11	9

 

Historically at Midlands

• Rutgers sent six individuals to last year's Midlands Championships. Shawver earned a runner-up finish at 133 pounds, using back-to-back ranked wins to advance to the title match against Dylan Ragusin (Michigan). Competing unattached, Luke Gayer also placed with a seventh-place result at 165 pounds.
• Six Scarlet Knights placed at the 2022 edition of the championships, the last time the program sent a full team to Midlands. Current student-athletes Andrew Clark, Dean Peterson and Brian Soldano all placed.
• RU's best team result at the Midlands occurred during the 2017-18 season. That year, the Scarlet Knights finished second with 109.5 team points, 16 bonus-pound victories, five place winners and a 125-pound individual title from Nick Suriano.

Up Next

• Rutgers begins Big Ten Conference action with road duals at No. 25 Indiana (Friday, January 10) and No. 5 Ohio State (Sunday, January 12). The Scarlet Knights match with the Hoosiers is set for a 7 p.m. start on Big Ten Plus. Sunday's dual with the Buckeyes will broadcast nationally at 6 p.m. on BTN.