RU Wrestlers Sighted in AWN Preseason Rankings
Oct 05 | Wrestling
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (October 5, 2011) – Rutgers wrestling had five individual student-athletes ranked in Amateur Wrestling News’ first poll of the 2011-12 season. The recent preseason ranking placed RU wrestlers Mario Mason (Moorestown, N.J.) and Scott Winston (Jackson, N.J.) in the top 10 nationally in their weight classes, with both rated as sixth-best at 149 pounds and 165 pounds, respectively.
"The rankings are nice, now there are expectations,” said RU head coach Scott Goodale. “How you handle the expectations is the question. There will be ups and downs throughout the season. The key is to get in the top eight at the end of the year.”
Rutgers wrestlers also in the top 20 of their weight classes were 141-pounder Billy Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J.), 174-pounder Gregory Zannetti (Edison, N.J.) and 184-pounder Dan Rinaldi (Lodi, 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.
Ashnault (R-Sr.) checked in at 20th at 141 pounds after a redshirt season in 2010-11. He recorded a 14-6 last year mark competing unattached. Sixteenth-ranked Zannetti (R-Jr.) also redshirted last season, compiling a 20-1 record at 174 pounds while taking individual titles at the ESU Open, Wilkes Open, Millerville Open and National Collegiate Open. Rinaldi (R-Jr.), ranked 17th at 184 pounds, went 24-10 en route to his second trip to the NCAA Championships.
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.
141 – 20. Billy Ashnault, R-Sr.
149 – 6. Mario Mason, R-Jr.
165 – 6. Scott Winston, R-Jo.
174 – 16. Greg Zannetti, R-Jr.
184 – 17. Dan Rinaldi, R-Jr.
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