Five Scarlet Knight Wrestlers Ranked by Intermat
Oct 17 | Wrestling
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (October 17, 2011) - Rutgers wrestling had five individual wrestlers ranked in Intermat's first poll of the 2011-12 season. The recent preseason ranking tabbed RU wrestlers Mario Mason (Moorestown, N.J.) and Scott Winston (Jackson, N.J.) in the top 10 nationally in their weight classes, with Mason at fifth at 149 pounds and Winston at sixth at 165 pounds.
Rutgers wrestlers also in the top 20 of their weight classes were 125-pounder Joseph Langel III (Howell, N.J.), 141-pounder Billy Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J.) and 174-pounder Gregory Zannetti (Edison, N.J.).
Mason compiled a 28-8 record last season and placed third at 149 pounds at the 2011 Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Championships to earn a berth to the NCAA Championships in Philadelphia, Pa. A redshirt junior, Mason just missed All-America status in 2010-11 after advancing to his bracket's round of 12.
Winston wrestled to a 22-5 record in 2011-12, advancing to his second NCAA Championships after winning the 165-pound division at the EIWA Championships. The title for Winston was RU's first EIWA champion since Tom Tanis in 2000. A redshirt junior, Winston advanced to the round of 12 at last year's national tournament, coming up narrowly short of All-America honors.
Langel (R-Jr.) was placed at 17th at 125 pounds after compiling a 21-11 record en route to qualifying for the NCAA Championships last season. Ashnault (R-Sr.) was ranked 18th at 141 pounds after a redshirt season in 2010-11. He recorded a 14-6 last year mark competing unattached. Seventeenth-ranked Zannetti (R-Jr.) also redshirted last season, wrestling to a 20-1 record at 174 pounds while taking individual titles at the ESU Open, Wilkes Open, Millerville Open and National Collegiate Open.
Head coach Scott Goodale's team was placed in a tie for 19th-place in Intermat's preseason tournament strength ranking. View the entire rankings from Intermat here.
RU wrestling fans are encouraged to attend the Scarlet vs. Black Wrestle-Offs on Friday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. at College Ave Gym. The wrestle-offs help in determining the Scarlet Knights' starting positions on the team. The event provides fans the opportunity to see the entire squad in action prior to the beginning of the season. Admission is free.
Rutgers begins the 2011-12 wrestling season on the road at the Brockport/Oklahoma Gold Classic on Saturday, Nov. 12. The Scarlet Knights' first home dual is set for Dec. 2 against Old Dominion at 6:30 p.m. in the RAC.
Wt. - Rk., Name, Yr.
125 - 17, Joseph Langel III, R-Jr.
141 - 18, Billy Ashnault, R-Sr.
149 - 5, Mario Mason, R-Jr.
165 - 6, Scott Winston, R-Jr.
174 - 17, Greg Zannetti, R-Jr.
