HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – Behind an individual title from No. 18 Dean Peterson (125) and a program-record nine placewinners, No. 16 Rutgers wrestling finished second at the 2024 Ken Kraft Midlands Championships on Monday in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
 
Peterson was one of four individual finalists at Midlands, along with No. 16 Dylan Shawver (133), No. 20 Joseph Olivieri (141) and No. 29 Shane Cartagena-Walsh (184). No. 5 Yaraslau Slavikouski (HWT) wrestled back to a bronze medal, while No. 33 Andrew Clark (149) and Brian Soldano (184) both finished fourth. No. 22 Jackson Turley (174) placed fifth, and No. 14 John Poznanski (197) finished sixth.
 
With their nine placewinners and 147 team points, the Scarlet Knights finished only behind Stanford, who claimed the team trophy with 157 points. Penn finished third with 131. It marked the most team points scored at the championships in school history and matched its best team result recorded in 2017.
 
2024 Midlands Championships Placewinners
1st: No. 18 Dean Peterson (125)
2nd: No. 16 Dylan Shawver (133)
2nd: No. 20 Joseph Olivieri (141)
2nd: No. 29 Shane Cartagena-Walsh (184)
4th: No. 33 Andrew Clark (149)
4th: Brian Soldano (184)
3rd: No. 5 Yaraslau Slavikouski (HWT)
5th: No. 22 Jackson Turley (174)
6th: No. 14 John Poznanski (197)
Intermat Rankings
 
Peterson defeated No. 26 Blake West (Northern Illinois) in his championship bout, using two takedowns and a reversal for an 8-7-decision. Peterson finished a team-best six victories across the two-day tournament, which included three tech falls and two decisions over ranked foes.
 
Shawver wrestled in his second consecutive Midlands title match after he lost to Dylan Ragusin in the finals a year prior. This time Shawver faced No. 10 Tyler Knox (Stanford), staying tied with Knox deep into the third period before Know used a takedown and back points for the 10-3 final.
 
Cartagena-Walsh and Olivieri both lost close decisions to ranked foes. Olivieri took No. 11 CJ Composto (Penn) to sudden victory before the Quaker used a takedown for the 4-1 final. Cartagena-Walsh was tied with No. 19 Reece Heller (Pittsburgh) 5-5 in the third period before Heller landed a last-second takedown for the 8-5 final.
 
After he lost is semifinal bout during the morning session, Slavikouski wrestled back a third-place match against Logan Shephard (Bucknell), muscling a 10-2 major decision to finish with a bronze medal.
 
Rutgers went 3-for-3 in its first semifinal bouts of the morning session. Peterson used a first-period takedown en route to a 4-0 decision over No. 25 Jacob Moran. Shawver followed with a tough 3-2 decision in the first tiebreakers against Ben Davino (Ohio State), and Olivieri continued his winning streak with a pin in the third period over No. 18 Dylan Chappell (Bucknell).
 
Cartagena-Walsh was the fourth to earn a win in his semifinal bout. Facing No. 33 Nathan Haas (Cal Baptist), Cartagena-Walsh took his opponent to sudden victory tied 1-1 before landing a takedown in overtime for the 4-1 final.
 
Clark, Poznanski, Slavikouski and Soldano all lost tight decisions in their respective semifinal bouts to ranked foes. Clark and Soldano closed their championships with fourth-place finishes, Turley came back to place fifth, and Poznanski closed out the weekend with a sixth-place result.
 
Day 1 Results
Dean Peterson (125)
Champ. Round 1 - Dean Peterson (Rutgers) won by tech fall over Anthony Ruzic (Illinois) (TF 18-1)
Champ. Round 2 - Dean Peterson (Rutgers) won by tech fall over Luqman Masud (Missouri) (TF 17-2)
Champ. Round 3 - Dean Peterson (Rutgers) won by decision over Marc-Anthony McGowan (Princeton) (Dec 7-1)
Quarterfinal - Dean Peterson (Rutgers) won by tech fall over Dedrick Navarro (Northwestern) (TF 19-4)
Semifinal - Dean Peterson (Rutgers) won by decision over Jacob Moran (Indiana) (Dec 4-0)
1st Place Match - Dean Peterson (Rutgers) won by decision over Blake West (Northern Illinois) (Dec 8-7)
 
Ayden Smith (125)
Champ. Round 1 - Ayden Smith (Rutgers) received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Ayden Smith (Rutgers) won by decision over Colyn Limbert (Pittsburgh) (Dec 4-2)
Champ. Round 3 - Ethan Rivera (Princeton) won by decision over Ayden Smith (Rutgers) (Dec 9-2)
Cons. Round 4 - Ayden Smith (Rutgers) won by decision over Jack Parker (Franklin & Marshall) (Dec 7-4)
Cons. Round 5 - Christopher Vargo (Edinboro) won by decision over Ayden Smith (Rutgers) (Dec 8-3)
 
Dylan Shawver (133)
Champ. Round 1 - Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) won by major decision over Andrew Hampton (Michigan State) (Maj 15-4)
Champ. Round 2 - Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) won by decision over Vince Perez (Central Michigan) (Dec 4-3)
Quarterfinal - Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) won by decision over Kurt Phipps (Bucknell) (Dec 3-2)
Semifinal - Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) won in tie breaker - 1 over Ben Davino (Ohio State) (TB-1 3-2)
1st Place Match - Tyler Knox (Stanford) won by decision over Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) (Dec 10-3)
 
Max Hermes (141)
Champ. Round 1 - Danny Martinez (SIU Edwardsville) won by major decision over Max Hermes (Rutgers) (Maj 9-0)
Cons. Round 1 - Max Hermes (Rutgers) won by medical forfeit over Evan Herriman (Michigan State) (MFF)
Cons. Round 2 - Nathan Jerore (Michigan) won by decision over Max Hermes (Rutgers) (Dec 4-2)
 
Joseph Olivieri (141)
Champ. Round 1 - Joesph Oliveri (Rutgers) won by tech fall over Jaden Crumpler (Michigan State) (TF 21-4)
Champ. Round 2 - Joesph Oliveri (Rutgers) won by tech fall over Jameson Garcia (Harvard) (TF 20-4)
Quarterfinal - Joesph Oliveri (Rutgers) won by fall over Evan Mougalian (Penn) (Fall 0:41)
Semifinal - Joesph Oliveri (Rutgers) won by fall over Dylan Chappell (Bucknell) (Fall 6:00)
1st Place Match - CJ Composto (Penn) won in sudden victory - 1 over Joesph Oliveri (Rutgers) (SV-1 4-1)
 
Joe Fongaro (149)
Champ. Round 1 - Briar Priest (Pittsburgh) won by major decision over Joe Fongaro (Rutgers) (Maj 8-0)
Cons. Round 1 - Bryce Kresho (Franklin & Marshall) won by decision over Joe Fongaro (Rutgers) (Dec 9-5)
 
Andrew Clark (149)
Champ. Round 1 - Andrew Clark (Rutgers) received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Andrew Clark (Rutgers) won by decision over Matt Hart (Indiana) (Dec 12-5)
Champ. Round 3 - Andrew Clark (Rutgers) won by decision over Hayden Whidden (SIU Edwardsville) (Dec 8-3)
Quarterfinal - Andrew Clark (Rutgers) won by decision over Finn Solomon (Pittsburgh) (Dec 5-3)
Semifinal - Cross Wasilewski (Penn) won by decision over Andrew Clark (Rutgers) (Dec 4-3)
Cons. Semi - Andrew Clark (Rutgers) won by decision over Sam Cartella (Northwestern) (Dec 3-1)
3rd Place Match - Kade Brown (Pittsburgh) won by decision over Andrew Clark (Rutgers) (Dec 4-2)
 
Alex Nini (149)
Champ. Round 1 - Alex Nini (Rutgers) won by fall over Donald Pigoni (Harvard) (Fall 3:34)
Champ. Round 2 - Malyke Hines (Lehigh) won by decision over Alex Nini (Rutgers) (Dec 4-2)
Cons. Round 2 - Alex Nini (Rutgers) received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Alex Nini (Rutgers) won by decision over Anthony Bahl (Indiana) (Dec 8-2)
Cons. Round 4 - Alex Nini (Rutgers) won by decision over Ej Parco (Stanford) (Dec 6-5)
Cons. Round 5 - Kelly Dunnigan (Penn) won by decision over Alex Nini (Rutgers) (Dec 9-3)
 
Conner Harer (157)
Champ. Round 1 - Jt Chance (George Mason) won by decision over Conner Harer (Rutgers) (Dec 6-5)
Cons. Round 1 - Conner Harer (Rutgers) won by decision over Antonio Alvarado (Illinois) (Dec 7-0)
Cons. Round 2 - Conner Harer (Rutgers) won by medical forfeit over Ryan Michaels (Edinboro) (MFF)
Cons. Round 3 - Conner Harer (Rutgers) won by decision over Griffin Gonzalez (Lehigh) (Dec 6-0)
Cons. Round 4 - Grigor Cholakyan (Stanford) won by decision over Conner Harer (Rutgers) (Dec 7-4)
 
Michael Cetta (157)
Champ. Round 1 - Logan Rozynski (Lehigh) won by decision over Michael Cetta (Rutgers) (Dec 13-7)
Cons. Round 1 - Michael Cetta (Rutgers) received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - Michael Cetta (Rutgers) won by decision over Abe Hinrichsen (Cal Poly) (Dec 13-11)
Cons. Round 3 - Cade Wirnsberger (Bucknell) won by decision over Michael Cetta (Rutgers) (Dec 5-1)
 
Andrew Barbosa (165)
Champ. Round 1 - Andrew Barbosa (Rutgers) won by tech fall over Cael Berg (Harvard) (TF 21-6)
Champ. Round 2 - Andrew Barbosa (Rutgers) won by decision over Bradley Gillum (SIU Edwardsville) (Dec 8-3)
Quarterfinal - Hunter Garvin (Stanford) won by decision over Andrew Barbosa (Rutgers) (Dec 6-3)
Cons. Round 4 - Tyler Swiderski (Central Michigan) won by decision over Andrew Barbosa (Rutgers) (Dec 10-4)
 
Anthony White (165)
Champ. Round 1 - Anthony White (Rutgers) won by decision over Jared Keslar (Pittsburgh) (Dec 4-2)
Champ. Round 2 - Anthony White (Rutgers) won by decision over Gunnar Myers (Northwestern) (Dec 6-5)
Quarterfinal - Tyler Lillard (Indiana) won in sudden victory - 1 over Anthony White (Rutgers) (SV-1 2-1)
Cons. Round 4 - Cael Berg (Harvard) won by medical forfeit over Anthony White (Rutgers) (MFF)
 
Ryan Ford (165)
Champ. Round 1 - Ryan Ford (Rutgers) won by decision over E`Than Birden (Ohio State) (Dec 4-2)
Champ. Round 2 - Evan Maag (George Mason) won by decision over Ryan Ford (Rutgers) (Dec 10-7)
Cons. Round 2 - Jared Keslar (Pittsburgh) won by decision over Ryan Ford (Rutgers) (Dec 7-1)
 
Jackson Turley (174)
Champ. Round 1 - Jackson Turley (Rutgers) won by decision over Aiden Vandenbush (Northwestern) (Dec 5-3)
Champ. Round 2 - Jackson Turley (Rutgers) won by decision over Haden Bottigleiri (Harvard) (Dec 14-7)
Quarterfinal - Luca Augustine (Pittsburgh) won in sudden victory - 1 over Jackson Turley (Rutgers) (SV-1 8-5)
Cons. Round 4 - Jackson Turley (Rutgers) won by major decision over Tommy Bennett (Northern Illinois) (Maj 17-8)
Cons. Round 5 - Jackson Turley (Rutgers) won by fall over Collin Guffey (Stanford) (Fall 1:40)
Cons. Semi - Alex Cramer (Central Michigan) won by decision over Jackson Turley (Rutgers) (Dec 14-13)
5th Place Match - Jackson Turley (Rutgers) won by medical forfeit over Luca Augustine (Pittsburgh) (MFF)
 
Brian Soldano (184)
Champ. Round 1 - Brian Soldano (Rutgers) received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Brian Soldano (Rutgers) won by decision over Logan Deacetis (Bucknell) (Dec 6-1)
Champ. Round 3 - Brian Soldano (Rutgers) won by fall over Cody Brenner (Central Michigan) (Fall 2:03)
Quarterfinal - Brian Soldano (Rutgers) won by major decision over Michael Squires (Princeton) (Maj 8-0)
Semifinal - Reece Heller (Pittsburgh) won by major decision over Brian Soldano (Rutgers) (Maj 16-7)
Cons. Semi - Brian Soldano (Rutgers) won by decision over Ian Bush (West Virginia) (Dec 12-11)
3rd Place Match - Maximus Hale (Penn) won by medical forfeit over Brian Soldano (Rutgers) (MFF)
 
Shane Cartagena-Walsh (184)
Champ. Round 1 - Shane Cartagena-Walsh (Rutgers) received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Shane Cartagena-Walsh (Rutgers) won by tech fall over Cory Thomas (Michigan State) (TF 18-3)
Champ. Round 3 - Shane Cartagena-Walsh (Rutgers) won by decision over Anthony Moscatello (Princeton) (Dec 8-2)
Quarterfinal - Shane Cartagena-Walsh (Rutgers) won by decision over Abraham Wojcikiewicz (Stanford) (Dec 7-3)
Semifinal - Shane Cartagena-Walsh (Rutgers) won in sudden victory - 1 over Nathan Haas (California Baptist) (SV-1 4-1)
1st Place Match - Reece Heller (Pittsburgh) won by decision over Shane Cartagena-Walsh (Rutgers) (Dec 9-6)
 
John Poznanski (197)
Champ. Round 1 - John Poznanski (Rutgers) received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - John Poznanski (Rutgers) won by tech fall over Cameron Wood (Central Michigan) (TF 22-6)
Quarterfinal - John Poznanski (Rutgers) won by decision over Rune Lawrence (West Virginia) (Dec 10-9)
Semifinal - Gabe Sollars (Indiana) won by decision over John Poznanski (Rutgers) (Dec 9-5)
Cons. Semi - Evan Bates (Northwestern) won by medical forfeit over John Poznanski (Rutgers) (MFF)
5th Place Match - Dillon Bechtold (Bucknell) won by medical forfeit over John Poznanski (Rutgers) (MFF)
 
PJ Casale (197)
Champ. Round 1 PJ Casale (Rutgers) received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Mac Stout (Pittsburgh) won by major decision over PJ Casale (Rutgers) (Maj 14-6)
Cons. Round 2 - PJ Casale (Rutgers) won by tech fall over Mason Pellegri (Harvard) (TF 15-0)
Cons. Round 3 - PJ Casale (Rutgers) won by medical forfeit over Josh LaBarbera (Penn) (MFF)
Cons. Round 4 - Nick Stemmet (Stanford) won by decision over PJ Casale (Rutgers) (Dec 6-3)
 
Yaraslau Slavikouski (HWT)
Champ. Round 1 - Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers) won by decision over Nolan Springer (Bucknell) (Dec 11-4)
Champ. Round 2 - Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers) won by disqualification over Josh Terrill (Michigan State) (DQ)
Quarterfinal - Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers) won by tech fall over Nick Pavlechko (Indiana) (TF 15-0)
Semifinal - Jacob Bullock (Indiana) won by decision over Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers) (Dec 4-1)
Cons. Semi - Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers) won by major decision over Peter Ming (Stanford) (Maj 14-2)
3rd Place Match - Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers) won by major decision over Logan Shephard (Bucknell) (Maj 10-2)
 
John O`Donnell (HWT)
Champ. Round 1 - Logan Shephard (Bucknell) won by fall over John O`Donnell (Rutgers) (Fall 3:19)
Cons. Round 1 - John O`Donnell (Rutgers) received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - John O`Donnell (Rutgers) won by tech fall over Dirk Morley (Northwestern) (TF 15-0)
Cons. Round 3 - John O`Donnell (Rutgers) won by fall over John Pardo (Penn) (Fall 4:19)
Cons. Round 4 - Peter Ming (Stanford) won by fall over John O`Donnell (Rutgers) (Fall 2:58)