Rutgers Wrestling to Face Brown; Host Quad-Meet This Weekend
Jan 09 | Wrestling
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Rutgers wrestling team (11-4, 4-1 EIWA) will travel to Providence, R.I., to face EIWA opponent Brown (2-4, 0-1 EIWA) on Friday at 6:00 p.m., before returning home to host a quad meet with US Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Boston University and conference foe Army on Sunday at noon.
Rutgers has been led by freshman Scott Winston (Jackson, N.J.), whois ranked in multiple national polls at 157-pounds, including No. 15 by W.I.N. Magazine. He is also ranked No. 16 by InterMat/National Wrestling Coaches Association(NWCA)/National Wrestling Media Association (NWMA) and No. 18 by Amateur Wrestling News (AWN).
Winston leads the team and ranks tied for third nationally with 25 wins, and is tied for third nationally with eight major decisions. Redshirt sophomore David Greenwald (Union, N.J.) is tied for second in the nation with 14 falls, while fellow classmate DJ Russo (Netcong, N.J.) is tied for eighth nationally with 20 wins.
Rutgers is 9-10 all-time against Brown, including a 26-9 victory at home last season. RU has won the last two matches in the series. With a victory, head coach Scott Goodale would pass last year's win total of 11. The Bears are coming off a 2-1 finish in the Lone Star Duals, defeating Air Force 26-6 and Appalachian State 18-16, and falling to Virginia Tech 36-9. Brown head coach Dave Amato picked up his 350th and 351st career victories on the day.
Rutgers will open the quad meet against USMMA at noon. The Mariners have won their last four dual matches and are 7-3 on the season. RU and USMMA have each defeated Princeton, USMMA 24-18 on Dec. 13 and Rutgers 38-6 on Dec. 6. RU is 3-1 all-time against the Mariners, including a 21-12 win on Jan. 13, 2008.
The Scarlet Knights will take on conference opponent Army (5-3-1, 2-0 EIWA) at 2:00 p.m. The Black Knights are coming off a 2-2 effort in the Lone Star duals on Jan. 3, with wins over Appalachian State (29-10) and Stanford (31-13), and losses to North Carolina (23-12) and No. 11 Minnesota (26-15). RU and Army have two common opponents in UNC and Franklin & Marshall. Rutgers fell to the Tar Heels 33-3 on Nov. 23, and both teams defeated the Diplomats (Army 41-3 on Nov. 18; RU 36-3 on Dec. 6).
The Scarlet Knights are 9-27 all-time against the Black Knights, including a 27-10 loss on Jan. 13, 2008. Army features two wrestlers ranked in the top-20 of their respective weight classes. Junior Matt Kyler is No. 12 at 149-pounds and fellow classmate Richard Starks is No. 13 at 197.
Finally, at 4:00 p.m., the Scarlet Knights will take on Boston (2-0), which is wrestling in its first dual action since Nov. 8. Rutgers is 4-6 all-time against the Terriers, including a 22-19 victory on the road on Jan. 26, 2008. BU freshman Hunter Meys is ranked No. 20 at 174-pounds.
After the quad meet, Rutgers returns to the mat on Saturday, Jan. 17, with a road tri-meet against Virginia and UNC-Greensboro in Charlottesville, Va.
PACK THE RAC:
On Jan. 24, Rutgers will face Rider at the Louis Brown Athletic Center. Tickets for that match are on sale now. Fans can log on to www.ScarletKnights.com or call the Rutgers Ticket Office at 866-445-GORU. Reserved seating is 12 dollars, general admission is seven dollars and children under 12 and seniors are five dollars. Rutgers students enter free with their RU ID. Four of the top high school teams in the state (Queen of Peace, Howell, High Point and Long Branch) will wrestle at 3:00 p.m., followed by RU vs. Rider at 6:00 p.m.
