Rutgers Wrestling Stuns No. 6 Minnesota in Historic Win at Jersey Mike’s Arena
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - In front of a raucous crowd of 3,702 at Jersey Mike’s Arena, No. 17 Rutgers delivered its biggest statement of the season - and arguably one of the biggest in program history - with a 23-15 win over No. 6 Minnesota on Friday night.
This wasn’t just a win. It was the win.
The kind that gets circled on the calendar, replayed in locker room highlights, and remembered by fans for years. It marked Rutgers’ first-ever victory over Minnesota since joining the Big Ten in 2014-15, and their first win over a top-six opponent in more than a decade.
And it all came together in dramatic fashion.
Remy Cotton Seals the Deal in Overtime
With the Scarlet Knights leading 17-12 and just two matches left on the board, all eyes turned to No. 16 Remy Cotton at 197 pounds.
Tied 1-1 in sudden victory with No. 25 Gavin Nelson, Cotton didn’t just win - he pinned.
In overtime. The arena erupted as Cotton locked up the fall and secured the dual for Rutgers.
“It’s a team effort,” Cotton said post-match. “It starts from the guy at 125 and builds all the way up to heavyweight.
I was in the back when [Ayden Smith] won his match and you could hear the crowd. Guys start thinking, ‘Okay, we got this.’
Let’s keep building. It took everyone tonight.”
Cotton’s pin was the exclamation point, but this was a full-team performance from top to bottom.
Ayden Smith Sets the Tone Early
The night started with fireworks at 125 pounds, where No. 28 Ayden Smith took on 2024 All-American and No. 10-ranked Jore Volk.
Smith wasted no time, scoring a takedown in the opening period and setting the tone for what would become a 7-2 upset. The win gave Rutgers an early jolt - and a 3-0 lead - that never truly faded.
“I just tried not to get too eager,” Smith said. “There have been a lot of matches in my career that were going that same way, and something happens - a small mistake, a misstep. I just focused on knowing where I could score.”
Smith’s poise and execution didn’t just earn him a signature win - it lit the spark for the entire Scarlet Knights lineup.
Bonus Points and Big-Time Performances
Rutgers built its lead with a mix of bonus points and gritty decisions.
At 133, No. 27 Dylan Shawver kept the momentum rolling with a dominant 12-2 major decision over Brandon Morvari, giving Rutgers a 7-0 team lead.
And while Minnesota’s No. 9 Vance VomBaur answered with a tech fall at 141, Rutgers veterans Andrew Clark (149) and Anthony White (157) responded with back-to-back ranked wins.
Clark controlled his match against No. 17 Drew Roberts from the jump, using an early takedown and riding time to notch a 5-1 decision.
White found himself in a 1-1 deadlock with No. 19 Charlie Millard in sudden victory, but struck quickly in overtime to secure a 4-1 win - and give Rutgers a 13-5 lead heading into the back half.
At 174, No. 16 Lenny Pinto delivered one of the most entertaining bouts of the night.
Pinto and No. 24 Ethan Riddle went back and forth, but Pinto found another gear late.
He racked up points with a takedown and back exposure in the closing seconds to earn an 18-9 major decision - a huge bonus-point swing that pushed Rutgers ahead 17-8.
Minnesota Pushes Back, But Cotton Slams the Door
Minnesota wasn’t going away quietly. At 165, No.
11 Andrew Sparks edged Rutgers’ Andrew Barbosa 2-0 in a tight match. Then at 184, the Golden Gophers picked up a major decision behind No.
4 Max McEnelly, who defeated Shane Cartagena-Walsh 15-7. That cut the team score to 17-12, setting the stage for Cotton’s heroics.
And Cotton delivered.
In a sudden victory period, Cotton muscled his way into position and caught Nelson on his back. The pin sealed the dual - and the crowd let him know it.
“This atmosphere is amazing,” Cotton said. “Seeing these fans, seeing everybody here who’s super into it and just the passion they have for the sport of wrestling here is just amazing.”
Even a decision loss at heavyweight - where No. 10 Koy Hopke edged No.
19 Hunter Catka 4-2 - couldn’t dent the celebration. Rutgers had already locked it up.
A Landmark Win for the Program
This wasn’t just a win over a top-10 opponent. This was a breakthrough.
The highest-ranked victory for Rutgers since 2016. The first over Minnesota.
The kind of performance that shows a program isn’t just competing - it’s arriving.
Head coach Scott Goodale summed it up best:
“I knew it was in there, but it’s hard. You’ve got to have all the pieces click on a good night, and you have to wrestle hard.
[The Big Ten] is a tough conference, and it’s a tough schedule. This is an awesome moment, and a big win.
We just have to keep getting better and focus on next week.”
What’s Next
Rutgers will look to carry this momentum into its next matchup at Michigan State on Saturday, Feb. 13. That dual will stream at 6:30 p.m. on Big Ten Plus.
But for now, the Scarlet Knights can soak in a well-earned moment of triumph - one built on grit, execution, and a whole lot of belief.
Final Score: Rutgers 23, Minnesota 15
Individual Results:
- 125: Ayden Smith (RU) dec.
Jore Volk (MINN), 7-2
- 133: Dylan Shawver (RU) maj. dec.
Brandon Morvari (MINN), 12-2
- 141: Vance VomBaur (MINN) tech fall Mason Gibson (RU), 18-3
- 149: Andrew Clark (RU) dec. Drew Roberts (MINN), 5-1
- 157: Anthony White (RU) dec. Charlie Millard (MINN), 4-1 SV
- 165: Andrew Sparks (MINN) dec. Andrew Barbosa (RU), 2-0
- 174: Lenny Pinto (RU) maj. dec. Ethan Riddle (MINN), 18-9
- 184: Max McEnelly (MINN) maj. dec. Shane Cartagena-Walsh (RU), 15-7
- 197: Remy Cotton (RU) fall Gavin Nelson (MINN), 8:13
- HWT: Koy Hopke (MINN) dec.
Hunter Catka (RU), 4-2
A night to remember in Piscataway - and a win that puts the rest of the Big Ten on notice.