Cartagena-Walsh, Catka Named Preseason Big Ten Wrestlers to Watch
Oct 31 | Wrestling
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers wrestling's Shane Cartagena-Walsh (184) and Hunter Catka (HWT) were named 2025 Preseason Big Ten Wrestlers to Watch, announced Friday by the league office.
Cartagena-Walsh enjoyed a breakout season last winter, finishing 2024-25 with 23 victories as the Scarlet Knights' starter at 184 pounds. The Ocean, New Jersey, native finished eighth at the Big Ten Championships and earned an automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Championships in Philadelphia, where he produced two victories. Cartagena-Walsh finished last season ranked No. 15 in the final coaches poll.
Catka enters the season ranked as high as No. 12 (The Open Mat) in the country at heavyweight. A three-time NCAA qualifier at Virginia Tech, Catka produced 66 career victories for the Hokies prior to his arrival 'On the Banks.' The Brookhaven, Pennsylvania, native qualified for the national tournament in 2021, 2023 and 2024, advancing to the Blood Round with three victories at the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Kansas City, Missouri.
Ranked No. 15 in the NWCA Preseason Coaches Poll with nine of its 10 starters ranked, Rutgers opens its season Sunday, Nov. 2 with a home quad against Centenary (10 a.m.), Gardner-Webb (11:30 a.m.) and Bloomsburg (1 p.m.).
RU is also set to host the 2025 NWCA All-Star Classic on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Piscataway. Dylan Shawver (133) and Lenny Pinto (174) will compete in the showcase, which features two reigning NCAA Champions and 10 Division I All-Americans from a season ago.
Cartagena-Walsh enjoyed a breakout season last winter, finishing 2024-25 with 23 victories as the Scarlet Knights' starter at 184 pounds. The Ocean, New Jersey, native finished eighth at the Big Ten Championships and earned an automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Championships in Philadelphia, where he produced two victories. Cartagena-Walsh finished last season ranked No. 15 in the final coaches poll.
Catka enters the season ranked as high as No. 12 (The Open Mat) in the country at heavyweight. A three-time NCAA qualifier at Virginia Tech, Catka produced 66 career victories for the Hokies prior to his arrival 'On the Banks.' The Brookhaven, Pennsylvania, native qualified for the national tournament in 2021, 2023 and 2024, advancing to the Blood Round with three victories at the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Kansas City, Missouri.
Ranked No. 15 in the NWCA Preseason Coaches Poll with nine of its 10 starters ranked, Rutgers opens its season Sunday, Nov. 2 with a home quad against Centenary (10 a.m.), Gardner-Webb (11:30 a.m.) and Bloomsburg (1 p.m.).
RU is also set to host the 2025 NWCA All-Star Classic on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Piscataway. Dylan Shawver (133) and Lenny Pinto (174) will compete in the showcase, which features two reigning NCAA Champions and 10 Division I All-Americans from a season ago.
Players Mentioned
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Thursday, October 23
Scott Goodale Preseason Press Conference
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Day in the Life of Head Coach Scott Goodale: Part 2
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