Rutgers Wrestling Set for Key Neutral-Site Tests vs. NC State, Davidson at Journeymen’s ‘Jostle’
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers wrestling is off to a strong 4-0 start this season, and the road ahead doesn’t get any easier. The 13th-ranked Scarlet Knights head south this Sunday for a pair of neutral-site duals at the Journeymen ‘Jostle’ in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, where they’ll square off against No. 10 NC State and Davidson.
Both matchups take place at Willow Springs High School, with the Scarlet Knights set to face Davidson at 1 p.m. and NC State at 3 p.m. Fans can catch both duals streaming live on FloWrestling.
And while the top squad travels to North Carolina, Rutgers will also be well-represented at the Patriot Open in Fairfax, Virginia. The program is sending several attached and unattached wrestlers to the all-day tournament, which will also stream on FloWrestling.
Projected Lineup: Rutgers Gearing Up with Depth and Momentum
Here’s a look at the Scarlet Knights’ probable lineup heading into Sunday, along with their national rankings (Intermat/FloWrestling):
- 125: Ayden Smith (7-0) - Ranked 28/31
- 133: Dylan Shawver (4-1) - Ranked 12/9
- 141: Joseph Olivieri (7-0) or Tahir Parkins (5-4) - Olivieri ranked 12/13
- 149: Andrew Clark (5-2) or Devon Magro (7-3) - Clark ranked 21/17
- 157: Anthony White (5-2) - Ranked 29/28
- 165: Ryan Ford (3-0) or Andrew Barbosa (3-1) - Ford ranked 31
- 174: Lenny Pinto (5-1) or Jordan Chapman (2-5) - Pinto ranked 9/4
- 184: Shane Cartagena-Walsh (6-1) - Ranked 16/17
- 197: Remy Cotton (2-0), PJ Casale (2-0), or Eric Freeman (0-2) - Cotton ranked 18/16
- HWT: Hunter Catka (4-2) - Ranked 20/17
This is a deep, battle-tested group that’s already proven it can compete at a high level. Rutgers has ranked wrestlers at all 10 weights according to Intermat, and five of them sit inside the top 12 in at least one national poll.
Patriot Open: Young Talent Gets the Spotlight
While the varsity squad handles business in North Carolina, a mix of attached and unattached Scarlet Knights will hit the mats at the Patriot Open in Virginia. For Rutgers fans looking to glimpse the program’s future-or see depth pieces sharpen their skills-this is a great opportunity.
Attached entries include:
- 141: Mason Gibson
- 149: Nick Villani
- 157: Dagen Condomitti, Easton Doster
- 174: Nate Blanchette
- HWT: Hadyn Packer
Unattached entries include:
- 141: Brandan Chletsos
- 157: Donovan DiStefano, Conner Harer, Sebastiano Nini
- 184: Damian Weaver
- HWT: Brandon Toranzo
There’s no shortage of promising talent in this group, and tournaments like the Patriot Open are crucial for development and evaluation.
Rolling into December with Momentum
Rutgers enters the weekend riding high after capturing the team title at the 2025 Keystone Classic on November 23 in Philadelphia. It wasn’t just a win-it was a statement.
The Scarlet Knights racked up 159 team points, edging out host Penn (140) and Lock Haven (103.5). Three wrestlers-Ayden Smith (125), Joseph Olivieri (141), and Lenny Pinto (174)-took home individual titles. All three are ranked nationally and continue to anchor a lineup that’s as balanced as it is dangerous.
Dylan Shawver (133) and Andrew Clark (149) each finished second in their weight classes, while Shane Cartagena-Walsh (184) and Andrew Barbosa (165) earned third-place finishes. Hunter Catka (HWT), Anthony White (157), and Jordan Chapman (174) all placed fourth.
Fifteen total placewinners and 10 top-four finishes? That’s the kind of depth that wins duals and builds postseason momentum.
Climbing the Rankings
Rutgers has climbed to No. 13 in the latest NWCA Coaches Poll and continues to earn national respect across all major outlets. The Open Mat has the Scarlet Knights as high as No. 7, and they’re firmly entrenched inside the top 20 across Intermat, FloWrestling, and The Open Mat.
Here’s a quick look at where some of the key names land across the rankings:
- Dylan Shawver (133): Top 12 across all five major polls
- Joseph Olivieri (141): Consistently ranked around 11-13
- Lenny Pinto (174): As high as No. 4 (Flo), top 10 in every poll
- Shane Cartagena-Walsh (184): Top 16 across the board
- Hunter Catka (HWT): Peaking at No.
11 (The Open Mat)
This is a team with star power at the top and quality throughout the lineup.
Scouting the Opponents: NC State and Davidson
NC State is no stranger to Rutgers. The Wolfpack hold a 2-1 edge in the all-time series and got the better of the Scarlet Knights last November, 24-13, at the Journeymen Jersey Jostle in Toms River, N.J.
But Rutgers didn’t go quietly. Four Scarlet Knights won individual bouts, including standout performances from Shawver and Clark.
Andrew Barbosa also pulled off a gritty 8-6 win over then-No. 20 Derek Fields.
The last time Rutgers topped NC State? That came back in 2000, a 29-15 win at a neutral site. A lot has changed since then-but this year’s Scarlet Knights have the tools to flip the script.
Davidson, meanwhile, has had a tougher go of it this season at 1-4, and Rutgers has controlled the all-time series with a 2-0 record. Their last meeting was a dominant 34-6 win in 2021, where Shawver notched a 16-0 tech fall. The first matchup came back in 2014 at Madison Square Garden, where RU rolled to a 46-3 victory.
What’s Next
After Sunday’s doubleheader, Rutgers returns home for a pair of key duals at Jersey Mike’s Arena. First up is No.
19 Oklahoma on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. in a nationally televised showdown on Big Ten Network. Then it’s Drexel on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 1 p.m.
With momentum building, rankings climbing, and talent emerging across the board, Rutgers is looking every bit the part of a national contender this season. Sunday's matchups in North Carolina will be another important test-and another chance to show the rest of the country what this team is made of.