Rutgers Wrestling Caps Big Ten Dual Season with Statement Win Over Michigan State
Rutgers Wrestling isn’t just finishing strong-they’re finishing with purpose. The No. 14-ranked Scarlet Knights closed out their Big Ten dual slate in dominant fashion on Friday night, rolling past Michigan State 29-9 in East Lansing. With the win, Rutgers locked in a 5-3 record in conference action, clinching a winning Big Ten season for the second straight year under head coach Scott Goodale.
That’s not just a nice stat-it’s a sign of a program that’s continuing to rise in arguably the toughest wrestling conference in the country. Since joining the Big Ten in 2014, Rutgers has now posted five winning conference seasons, and this latest one keeps them firmly in the mix, sitting fifth in the current standings.
Rutgers Takes Control Early and Never Looks Back
The dual opened with Ayden Smith setting the tone at 125 pounds. Smith wasted no time, forcing a stall call early to grab the lead, then added a takedown in the second period to cruise to a 4-0 decision over Nick Corday. That gave Rutgers a 3-0 edge right out of the gate.
Next up, Dylan Shawver kept the momentum going at 133, grinding out a 7-3 decision over Caleb Weiand. Even with a team point deduction against the Scarlet Knights due to a clock malfunction during Shawver’s bout, Rutgers still held a 5-0 lead. Michigan State briefly closed the gap with a win at 141 pounds, but that would be as close as the Spartans got all night.
Clark’s Pin Blows It Open
The turning point came at 149 pounds, when Andrew Clark-ranked No. 29 nationally-stepped onto the mat and delivered a jolt of energy. Clark locked up Clayton Jones in the second period and stuck him for the fall at 3:46, swinging six huge points Rutgers’ way and opening the floodgates.
From there, the Scarlet Knights were in full control. Anthony White followed with a steady 8-4 decision at 157 over Darius Marines, sending Rutgers into the break with a commanding 14-3 lead.
Bonus Points Seal the Deal
Coming out of intermission, Rutgers didn’t let up. Andrew Barbosa, ranked No. 19 at 165 pounds, put on a clinic against Jack Conley.
Barbosa racked up six takedowns en route to a third-period tech fall, adding five more points to the team total. Right behind him, Lenny Pinto-No. 17 at 174-faced a familiar foe in former Scarlet Knight Connor O’Neill.
Pinto showed no hesitation, hitting a clean double-leg late in the match to lock in a 10-2 major decision.
Just like that, Rutgers had pushed its lead to 23-3, and the dual was all but decided.
Cartagena-Walsh and Cotton Keep the Pressure On
At 184 pounds, Shane Cartagena-Walsh delivered a composed, workmanlike 10-4 decision over Ryan Boucher, continuing Rutgers’ string of strong performances. That set the stage for the night’s only ranked-versus-ranked showdown: Jackson Cotton taking on his former team in a high-profile 197-pound bout.
Cotton wasted no time making his mark. He landed a takedown in the first period, added another in the second, and racked up over two minutes of riding time to secure a dominant 8-1 decision. It was a statement win in a matchup that had a little extra juice, and Cotton delivered.
Heavyweight Loss Doesn’t Dampen the Night
Brandon Toranzo closed out the dual at heavyweight, dropping a decision to Josh Terrill, but by then, the outcome was long decided. Rutgers walked off the mat with a convincing 29-9 win and plenty of momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.
What’s Next for the Scarlet Knights
With the Big Ten dual season wrapped, Rutgers now turns its attention to a pair of non-conference matchups to close out the regular season. First up is a home dual against in-state rival Princeton on Feb. 16 at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
That one’s set for a 7 p.m. start and will stream live on Big Ten Plus. Then, it’s a quick turnaround with a road trip to Hofstra on Feb.
As the postseason looms, Rutgers is peaking at the right time. The Scarlet Knights are wrestling with confidence, depth, and bonus-point firepower-and they’re showing they can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the Big Ten.