PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 14 Rutgers wrestling (12-5, 4-4) defeated Bloomsburg (4-16, 0-8), 37-8, on Wednesday night in front of 2,973 fans at Jersey Mike's Arena. Prior to the dual, the Scarlet Knights recognized their seniors – Devon Britton, Jacob Butler, Niccolo Colucci, Al DeSantis, Kyle Epperly, Jackson Turley and Mitch Moore.
 
Wrestling nine bouts with a forfeit at 141 pounds, RU earned five bonus-point victories, including pins from No. 14 Jackson Turley (174) and No. 22 Brian Soldano (184) and tech falls from No. 25 Michael Cetta (149) and Devon Britton (133).
 
"It was great to see some of our seniors get to wrestle in front of our home crowd," said head coach Scott Goodale. "Now it is time to get healthy and shift our focus to the postseason."

After No. 20 Dean Peterson (125) opened the night with a win in sudden victory, Britton picked up three tilts in his opening period with Major Lewis. Britton continued to go after Lewis, securing the tech fall in the second period. A forfeit at 141 pounds followed, as RU owned a 14-0 lead through its first three matches.

Cetta continued Rutgers' bonus streak with a 24-9 tech fall over Cade Balestrini, while Dylan Weaver (157) made his Jersey Mike's Arena dual debut with a 13-6 decision over William Morrow.

After a loss at 165, the Scarlet Knights registered back-to-back pins from Turley and Soldano to put the dual out of reach. Niccolo Colucci (197) and Kyle Epperly (HWT) also made their 2023-24 JMA dual debuts, with Epperly muscling an 8-3 decision against Tyler McCatharn.
 
BOX SCORE
No. 14 Rutgers 37, Bloomsburg 8
125: 20/19 Dean Peterson (RU) over Bronson Garber (BU) by SV1, 8-5; RU leads, 3-0
133: Devon Britton (RU) over Major Lewis (BU) by TF, 15-0 (3:45); RU leads, 8-0
141: Max Hermes (RU) wins by forfeit; RU leads, 14-0
149: 25/32 Michael Cetta (RU) over Cade Balestrini (BU) by TF, 24-9 (6:55); RU leads, 19-0
157: Dylan Weaver (RU) over William Morrow (BU) by dec., 13-6; RU leads, 22-0
165: Caden Dobbins (BU) over Luke Gayer (RU) by TF, 16-0 (5:00); RU leads, 22-5
174: 14/16 Jackson Turley (RU) over Nolen Zeigler (BU) by fall (4:00); RU leads, 28-5
184: 22/19 Brian Soldano (RU) over Anthony DeRosa (BU) by fall (3:34); RU leads, 34-5
197: Kolby Flank (BU) over Niccolo Colucci (RU) by dec., 5-0; RU leads, 34-8
HWT: Kyle Epperly (RU) over Tyler McCatharn (BU) by dec., 8-3; RU wins, 37-8
 
Up Next
Several student-athletes will compete at the National Collegiate Open and The Open Zingo Nationals next weekend. Rutgers will wrestle at the 2024 Big Ten Championships from March 9-10 in College Park, Maryland.