Ayden Smith Makes Rutgers Wrestling History with Big Ten Freshman of the Week Honors
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - It’s not every day a freshman steps onto the mat and takes down a top-10 opponent. It’s even rarer when that same performance earns a program-first honor. But that’s exactly what Ayden Smith did for Rutgers wrestling - and the Big Ten took notice.
Smith, competing at 125 pounds, was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week after a statement-making 7-2 win over then-No. 10 Jore Volk of Minnesota.
The upset helped propel No. 14 Rutgers to a 23-15 victory over the sixth-ranked Golden Gophers in front of a fired-up home crowd on February 6 in Piscataway.
This isn’t just a personal milestone - it’s a historic moment for the Scarlet Knights. Smith becomes the first wrestler in program history to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. It’s also the first weekly recognition for Rutgers from the conference since Dean Peterson picked up co-wrestler of the week honors last season.
Smith didn’t just win - he set the tone. In a high-stakes dual against a 2024 NCAA All-American, Smith wasted no time, scoring a takedown in the opening period to grab a 3-1 lead over Volk, who came in with a 17-3 record and a national top-10 ranking.
As the bout tightened late, Smith showed poise beyond his years. With Volk threatening and the score sitting at 4-2, Smith hit a perfectly timed re-attack to seal the takedown - and the upset.
That kind of composure under pressure is what coaches dream of from seasoned veterans, let alone a freshman.
Smith’s breakout performance didn’t come out of nowhere. Ranked as high as No. 22 in the nation by FloWrestling, he’s been quietly putting together a solid campaign in one of the toughest conferences in college wrestling.
He’s now 13-6 overall, with a 9-6 mark in dual meets and a 4-3 record in Big Ten action. And he’s not just beating unranked opponents - Smith already owns four wins over ranked foes, including top-10 victories against Volk and Michigan’s No.
19 Diego Sotelo.
Rutgers, now riding high after the upset of Minnesota, will close out its Big Ten dual schedule on the road against Michigan State. The Spartans come in at 4-7 overall and 1-5 in the conference. That matchup is set for Friday night at 6:30 p.m. from Jenison Field House and will stream live on Big Ten Plus.
For Rutgers fans, Ayden Smith’s emergence is more than just a feel-good story - it’s a sign that the future is arriving faster than expected.