Nov 04 | Wrestling
PISCATAWAY, N.J. āĀ Freshman Anthony Knox (125) and junior Andrew Barbosa (165) were named 2026 Preseason Big Ten Wrestlers to Watch, the league office announced Wednesday.
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Barbosa enjoyed a breakout season last winter, finishing 2025-26 with 18 victories as the Scarlet Knights' starter at 165 pounds. The Riverside, California, native finished sixth at the Big Ten Championships last season, highlighted by a sudden-victory win over 2025 national runner-up Joey Blaze (Purdue). Barbosa earned an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Championships in Cleveland.
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One of only five New Jersey wrestlers to win four individual state championships and the fourth to compete for the Scarlet Knights under head coach Scott Goodale, Knox arrives "On the Banks" for his first collegiate season. Knox posted an illustrious 144-1 record during his prep career at Saint John Vianney, winning his final 138 matches. Knox also impressed on the international scene this year, finishing as the runner-up at the 2026 World Team Trials and earning bronze at the 2026 U.S. Open.
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Ranked No. 20 in the NWCA Preseason Coaches Poll, Rutgers features eight starters ranked by InterMat heading into the season. The Scarlet Knights open the 2026-27 campaign on Saturday at Journeymen WrangleMania against LIU (2 p.m.) and Navy (4 p.m.).
Ā
Barbosa enjoyed a breakout season last winter, finishing 2025-26 with 18 victories as the Scarlet Knights' starter at 165 pounds. The Riverside, California, native finished sixth at the Big Ten Championships last season, highlighted by a sudden-victory win over 2025 national runner-up Joey Blaze (Purdue). Barbosa earned an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Championships in Cleveland.
Ā
One of only five New Jersey wrestlers to win four individual state championships and the fourth to compete for the Scarlet Knights under head coach Scott Goodale, Knox arrives "On the Banks" for his first collegiate season. Knox posted an illustrious 144-1 record during his prep career at Saint John Vianney, winning his final 138 matches. Knox also impressed on the international scene this year, finishing as the runner-up at the 2026 World Team Trials and earning bronze at the 2026 U.S. Open.
Ā
Ranked No. 20 in the NWCA Preseason Coaches Poll, Rutgers features eight starters ranked by InterMat heading into the season. The Scarlet Knights open the 2026-27 campaign on Saturday at Journeymen WrangleMania against LIU (2 p.m.) and Navy (4 p.m.).
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