No. 16 Wrestling Hosts No. 21 Illinois Friday Night at Jersey Mike's Arena

Friday, January 14

Piscataway, N.J.

7 PM

Rutgers University

Illinois

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Photo by: (Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics)

No. 16 Wrestling Hosts No. 21 Illinois Friday Night at Jersey Mike's Arena

Jan 13 | Wrestling

Updated COVID-19 Policy Tickets Radio: WRSU (88.7 FM)Livestream - Big Ten Plus ($)Match Day Program: Illinois Match Day Notes: vs. Illinois

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 16 Rutgers wrestling (11-1, 1-1) continues its Big Ten Conference schedule with No. 21 Illinois (2-0, 0-0) on Friday night at Jersey Mike's Arena. The dual will broadcast at 7 p.m. on Big Ten Plus, with Nick Kosko (Play-by-Play) and Matt Howe (Color) on the call. WRSU (88.7 FM) will provide live radio coverage.

Fans making the trip to Piscataway are encouraged to be aware of Rutgers Athletics' updated COVID-19 in-venue protocols. Proof of full vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of the event will be required for entry to all indoor events (for all individuals above the age of five). More information on the updated policy can be found here.

PROJECTED LINEUP: RUTGERS

Weight	Wrestler
125	31/HM/NR Dylan Shawver (13-3)
133	20/HM/NR Joseph Olivieri (15-3) -OR- Devon Britton (7-6)
141	3/3/3 Sebastian Rivera (14-0)
149	18/HM/NR Michael VanBrill (10-1)
157	Robert Kanniard (6-6) -OR- Al DeSantis (9-5)
165	Andrew Clark (10-11)
174	26/23/NR Jackson Turley (3-3) -OR- Connor O'Neill (9-7)
184	5/5/5 John Poznanski (12-0)
197	7/11/8 Greg Bulsak (14-0)
HWT	Boone McDermott (9-6)

*rankings Intermat/FloWrestling/TheOpenMat

PROJECTED LINEUP: ILLINOIS

Weight	Wrestler
125	26/24/NR Justin Cardani (9-2)
133	6/5/5 Lucas Byrd (10-1)
141	We Rachal (8-8) -OR- 5/NR/6 Dylan Duncan
149	Christian Kanzler (8-5) -OR- NR/NR/16 Mike Carr
157	Joe Roberts (9-7)
165	27/HM/NR Danny Braunagel (7-5)
174	NR/22/NR DJ Shannon (4-4)
184	19/18/NR Zac Braunagel (6-2)
197	29/20/NR Matt Wroblewski (4-2)
HWT	17/17/17 Luke Luffman (10-2)

*rankings Intermat/FloWrestling/TheOpenMat

WHAT TO KNOW

After an 11-0 start, RU suffered its first dual loss of the season as it dropped a 19-14 road matchup at then-No. 16 Wisconsin on Sunday in Madison. The loss ended the Scarlet Knights' 11-match winning streak to open the season, its best start to a dual campaign since its first year of dual competition in 1930.
Two weeks into the new year, Rutgers is ranked as high as 16 in the country. The Scarlet Knights (11-1, 1-1) are No. 16 in the latest NWCA Coaches Poll as well as by FloWrestling, and are No. 17 by Intermat.
Seven student-athletes are ranked by Intermat this week, which includes an appearance from true freshman Joseph Olivieri (133) at No. 20 in the country. Olivieri, who also earned honorable mention honors from FloWrestling, made his varsity debut on Sunday against the Badgers with a 4-3 decision over No. 25 Kyle Burwick. The ranked win for Olivieri was the first by a true freshman in his varsity debut since RU joined the Big Ten Conference in 2014.
Rutgers features three top-10 wrestlers by Intermat - No. 3 Sebastian Rivera (141), No. 5 John Poznanski (184) and No. 7 Greg Bulsak (197). The trio is a combined 40-0 this season with wins over 15 ranked foes.
Michael VanBrill (18th, 149), Jackson Turley (26th, 174) and Dylan Shawver (31st, 125) are also ranked by Intermat. Sammy Alvarez (133) remained No. 14 by WIN Magazine and No. 15 by The Open Mat.
Rivera has been particularly dominant for the Scarlet Knights this season. The Toms River native owns a 100 percent bonus rate in 14 matches with seven tech falls, three major decisions, two pins and two forfeits for a team-high 51 dual points. Rivera is set to face No. 1 Nick Lee this weekend at Penn State.
Rivera is one wins away from 100 for his career.
Scott Goodale is six wins away from the 200th dual victory as head coach.

UP NEXT

Rutgers heads to State College to face No. 1 Penn State on Sunday, Jan. 16. The dual is slated for a 5 p.m. ET start and will broadcast nationally on either ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU.