PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Dean Peterson (125) earned Big Ten Co-Wrestler of the Week honors, announced Thursday by the conference office. Peterson went 2-0 in Big Ten duals over the weekend, which included a win over previously undefeated Luke Lilledahl (Penn State) to move to 16-3 on the season.
 
It marks the first career weekly conference honor for Peterson and the first for No. 12 Rutgers wrestling this season. Peterson is the first Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for the Scarlet Knights since Jackson Turley (174) earned the honors on Jan. 16, 2024.
 
Peterson opened last weekend with a 4-1 decision over then-No. 6 Lilledahl, who entered the dual with an unblemished 10-0 record. Tied 1-1 late in the third period, Shawver caught Lilledahl's ankles with 28 seconds left in the match for a bout-winning takedown. The win was Peterson's second over a top-10 opponent after he defeated No. 10 Brendan McCrone (Ohio State) earlier this month in Columbus.
 
Peterson followed with a dominant 8-2 decision over Caelen Riley (Illinois), landing takedowns in the first and third periods en route to his second win of the weekend. Peterson's decision helped Rutgers secure a 16-15 win over the Fighting Illini, the program's first top-10 win since the 2018-19 campaign.
 
Ranked No. 10 in the country this week by Intermat, Peterson is 16-3 this season with wins over five ranked opponents. The Barnegat, New Jersey, native owns a 10-3 record in dual action, a 4-1 mark in Big Ten Conference duals and co-leads the team with 42 team points.
 
The Scarlet Knights return to action on Sunday, Feb. 2 at No. 8 Minnesota. The 1 p.m. dual is set for a national broadcast on Big Ten Network.