Rutgers Wrestling Shocks No. 6 Minnesota in Statement Win
Rutgers Wrestling didn’t just grab its first ranked win of the 2025-26 season on Friday night - it made a thunderous statement. In front of a fired-up home crowd, the Scarlet Knights pulled off their biggest upset in a decade, toppling No. 6 Minnesota 23-15 in a dual that showcased grit, poise, and a few breakout performances that could reshape the national conversation around this program.
Winning six of ten bouts - including two major decisions and a match-sealing pin - Rutgers wrestled with purpose from the opening whistle. And they needed every bit of that energy, as Minnesota made a late push that kept things tense until the very end.
Fast Start Sets the Tone
Rutgers came out swinging, winning four of the first five bouts to build early momentum. At 125, No.
28 Ayden Smith set the tone with a convincing 7-2 decision over No. 10 Jore Volk, putting the Knights on the board first.
That was followed by a dominant showing from No. 27/31 Dylan Shawver at 133 pounds, who racked up a 12-2 major decision over Brandon Morvari.
Just like that, Rutgers held a 7-0 lead.
Minnesota responded at 141, where No. 9 Vance VomBaur overwhelmed Mason Gibson with an 18-3 technical fall.
But Rutgers answered right back. No.
29/NR Andrew Clark controlled the pace in a 5-1 decision over No. 17/19 Drew Roberts at 149, and No.
29/32 Anthony White edged No. 19/15 Charlie Millard in sudden victory at 157, 4-1.
By the halfway point, Rutgers had built a 13-5 advantage - and it was clear this wasn’t going to be a fluke.
Middle Weights Bring the Fire
Minnesota tried to claw back in the middle weights. At 165, No.
11/13 Andrew Sparks earned a 2-0 decision over Rutgers’ No. 20/25 Andrew Barbosa, trimming the deficit to 13-8.
But Rutgers’ No. 16/20 Lenny Pinto delivered a huge response at 174, notching the team’s second major decision of the night - an 18-9 clinic against No.
24/22 Ethan Riddle. That gave Rutgers a 17-8 cushion, and every point was starting to matter.
Minnesota wouldn’t go quietly. No.
4 Max McEnelly flexed his top-five status at 184 with a 15-7 major over No. 21/18 Shane Cartagena-Walsh, narrowing the gap to 17-12 and setting up a high-stakes finish.
Remy Cotton Seals the Deal in Dramatic Fashion
With the dual hanging in the balance, No. 16 Remy Cotton stepped onto the mat at 197 pounds facing No.
25 Gavin Nelson - and delivered the moment of the night. After a back-and-forth battle, Cotton found his opening in overtime, turning Nelson to his back and securing the fall at 8:13.
That pin didn’t just win the bout - it clinched the dual for Rutgers, sending the bench and crowd into a frenzy.
The heavyweight match between No. 10/12 Koy Hopke (Minnesota) and No.
19/19 Hunter Catka (Rutgers) went the Gophers’ way in a 4-2 decision, but the outcome was already in the books. Final score: Rutgers 23, Minnesota 15.
A Program-Defining Win
This win doesn’t just go down as a top-10 upset - it’s a signature moment for a Rutgers team that’s been building toward something special. The Scarlet Knights didn’t just sneak past Minnesota. They out-wrestled them, out-hustled them, and out-executed them when it mattered most.
From Ayden Smith’s opening win to Remy Cotton’s heroic pin, this was a full-team effort that showed what this group is capable of. And with Big Ten play heating up, Rutgers just sent a message: they’re not just here to compete - they’re here to shake things up.
What’s Next
Rutgers is back on the mat next Friday with another Big Ten test, this time on the road against Michigan State. That dual is set for 6:30 p.m. ET and will stream live on BTN+.
If Friday night was any indication, the Scarlet Knights are just getting started.
Match Results Recap:
- 125: No. 28 Ayden Smith (RU) def.
No. 10 Jore Volk (MINN), 7-2 | RU leads 3-0
- 133: No. 27/31 Dylan Shawver (RU) def.
Brandon Morvari (MINN), 12-2 MD | RU leads 7-0
- 141: No.
9 Vance VomBaur (MINN) def. Mason Gibson (RU), 18-3 TF | RU leads 7-5
- 149: No. 29/NR Andrew Clark (RU) def.
No. 17/19 Drew Roberts (MINN), 5-1 | RU leads 10-5
- 157: No. 29/32 Anthony White (RU) def.
No. 19/15 Charlie Millard (MINN), 4-1 SV1 | RU leads 13-5
- 165: No. 11/13 Andrew Sparks (MINN) def.
No. 20/25 Andrew Barbosa (RU), 2-0 | RU leads 13-8
- 174: No. 16/20 Lenny Pinto (RU) def.
No. 24/22 Ethan Riddle (MINN), 18-9 MD | RU leads 17-8
- 184: No. 4 Max McEnelly (MINN) def.
No. 21/18 Shane Cartagena-Walsh (RU), 15-7 MD | RU leads 17-12
- 197: No. 16 Remy Cotton (RU) def.
No. 25 Gavin Nelson (MINN), Fall (8:13) | RU leads 23-12
- HWT: No. 10/12 Koy Hopke (MINN) def.
No. 19/19 Hunter Catka (RU), 4-2 | Final: RU wins 23-15