Friday, February 6
Piscataway, N.J.
7 PM
Rutgers University
23
vs
15
Minnesota
Photo by: Dakota Moyer
GOLDEN BEATDOWN! No. 17 Wrestling Downs No. 6 Minnesota, 23-15
Feb 06 | Wrestling
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 17 Rutgers wrestling (11-5, 4-3) delivered its marque win of the season, downing No. 6 Minnesota (9-5, 3-3), 23-15, on Friday night in front of 3,702 fans at Jersey Mike's Arena.
Up 17-12 with two matches to go, No. 16 Remy Cotton (197) pinned No. 25 Gavin Nelson in overtime to secure the Scarlet Knights' first win over the Golden Gophers since it joined the Big Ten Conference in 2014-15.
"It's a team effort. It starts from the guy at 125 and builds all the way up to heavyweight," Cotton said. "I was in the back locker room when [Ayden Smith] won his match and you could hear the crowd, and guys start thinking, 'Okay, we got this. We got this.' Let's keep building. It took everyone tonight."
Cotton's fall was just an exclamation point on RU's team effort. No. 28 Ayden Smith (125) picked off 2024 All-American No. 10 Jore Volk, No. 16 Lenny Pinto (174) and No. 27 Dylan Shawver (133) contributed bonus points and No. 29 Andrew Clark and No. 29 Anthony White (165) both secured decisions over top 20 opponents in the 6-4 match split against Minnesota.
The dual victory was the first for the Scarlet Knights over the Golden Gophers in program history. It marked the highest-ranked win for RU since 2016 and its first over a top six foe since it defeated No. 4 Nebraska, 17-16, on Dec. 12, 2015 in Piscataway.
"I knew it was there, but it is hard. You have got to have all the pieces click on a good night and you have to wrestle hard," said head coach Scott Goodale. "[The Big Ten] is a tough conference, and it is a tough schedule. This is an awesome moment, and a big win. We just have to keep getting better and focus on next week."
Smith opened against Volk, who finished seventh at the 2024 NCAA Championships and entered Friday night No. 10 in the country. Smith worked a quick takedown of Volk in the opening period for a 3-1 lead. Volk worked his way back to make it 4-2 in the closing seconds of the bout before Smith hit a re-attack for a takedown and the 7-2 upset.
"I just tried not to get too eager," Smith said. "There's been a lot of matches in my college career where it's been going to that same trajectory, and something happens. I make a little mistake; I make a little misstep. So, knowing where I could score was really just what was going through my mind throughout the last 30 seconds."
No. 9 Vance VomBaur delivered a tech fall over Mason Gibson (141), but the Scarlet Knights closed out the half with back-to-back ranked decisions form their veterans. Clark landed a takedown early on No. 17 Drew Roberts and added more than two minutes of riding time for a 5-1 final. Tied 1-1 with No. 19 Charlie Millard in overtime, White struck quick for a 4-1 decision.
The four victories before the midpoint put Rutgers up 13-5 with five matches to go.
No. 20 Andrew Barbosa (165) wrestled tough in a 2-0 loss to No. 11 Andrew Sparks, but Pinto rose to the occasion to counter. Pinto landed three takedowns in a back-and-forth match against No. 24 Ethan Riddle, then used a takedown and back points in the closing seconds for an 18-9 major decision.
No. 21 Shane Cartagena-Walsh (184) landed a takedown on reigning NCAA bronze medalist No. 4 Max McEnelly, but loss by 15-7 major decision. The bonus points from the Golden Gophers. Made it just a 17-12 team score with two matches remaining.
Cotton used theatrics to put away one of the biggest wins in program history in style. Tied 1-1 in sudden victory against Nelson, Cotton muscled around and caught Nelson on his back to secure the dual. A loss from No. 19 Hunter Catka (HWT) against No. 10 Koy Hopke made no difference in the 23-15 final.
"This atmosphere is amazing," Cotton said. "Seeing these fans, seeing everybody here who's super in it and just the passion they have for the sport of wrestling here is just amazing."
Up Next
Rutgers wrestles at Michigan State on Saturday, Feb. 13 in East Lansing. The 6:30 p.m. match will stream on Big Ten Plus.
Box Score
No. 17 Rutgers 23, No. 6 Minnesota 15
125: 28/28 Ayden Smith (RU) over 10/8 Jore Volk (MINN) by dec., 7-2; RU leads, 3-0
133: 27/31 Dylan Shawver (RU) over Brandon Morvari (MINN) by MD, 12-2; RU leads, 7-0
141: 9/9 Vance VomBaur (MINN) over Mason Gibson (RU) by TF, 18-3 (7:00); RU leads, 7-5
149: 29/NR Andrew Clark (RU) over 17/19 Drew Roberts (MINN) by dec., 5-1; RU leads, 10-5
157: 29/32 Anthony White (RU) over 19/15 Charlie Millard (MINN) by SV1, 4-1; RU leads, 13-5
165: 11/13 Andrew Sparks (MINN) over 20/25 Andrew Barbosa (RU) by dec., 2-0; RU leads, 13-8
174: 16/20 Lenny Pinto (RU) over24/22 Ethan Riddle (MINN) by MD, 18-9; RU leads, 17-8
184: 4/4 Max McEnelly (MINN) over 21/18 Shane Cartagena-Walsh (RU) by MD, 15-7; RU leads, 17-12
197: 16/16 Remy Cotton (RU) over 25/25 Gavin Nelson (MINN) by fall (8:13); RU leads, 23-12
HWT: 10/12 Koy Hopke (MINN) over 19/19 Hunter Catka (RU) by dec., 4-2; RU wins, 23-15
Rankings Intermat/FloWrestling
Up 17-12 with two matches to go, No. 16 Remy Cotton (197) pinned No. 25 Gavin Nelson in overtime to secure the Scarlet Knights' first win over the Golden Gophers since it joined the Big Ten Conference in 2014-15.
Remy locks this one UP!
— Rutgers Wrestling (@RUWrestling) February 7, 2026
Watch on @BigTenPlus #RelentlessPursuit | #GoRU pic.twitter.com/RgpECPkZUT
"It's a team effort. It starts from the guy at 125 and builds all the way up to heavyweight," Cotton said. "I was in the back locker room when [Ayden Smith] won his match and you could hear the crowd, and guys start thinking, 'Okay, we got this. We got this.' Let's keep building. It took everyone tonight."
Cotton's fall was just an exclamation point on RU's team effort. No. 28 Ayden Smith (125) picked off 2024 All-American No. 10 Jore Volk, No. 16 Lenny Pinto (174) and No. 27 Dylan Shawver (133) contributed bonus points and No. 29 Andrew Clark and No. 29 Anthony White (165) both secured decisions over top 20 opponents in the 6-4 match split against Minnesota.
The dual victory was the first for the Scarlet Knights over the Golden Gophers in program history. It marked the highest-ranked win for RU since 2016 and its first over a top six foe since it defeated No. 4 Nebraska, 17-16, on Dec. 12, 2015 in Piscataway.
"I knew it was there, but it is hard. You have got to have all the pieces click on a good night and you have to wrestle hard," said head coach Scott Goodale. "[The Big Ten] is a tough conference, and it is a tough schedule. This is an awesome moment, and a big win. We just have to keep getting better and focus on next week."
Smith opened against Volk, who finished seventh at the 2024 NCAA Championships and entered Friday night No. 10 in the country. Smith worked a quick takedown of Volk in the opening period for a 3-1 lead. Volk worked his way back to make it 4-2 in the closing seconds of the bout before Smith hit a re-attack for a takedown and the 7-2 upset.
Get hyped, Ayden!
— Rutgers Wrestling (@RUWrestling) February 7, 2026
Watch on @BigTenPlus #RelentlessPursuit | #GoRU pic.twitter.com/yTU90mcfm3
"I just tried not to get too eager," Smith said. "There's been a lot of matches in my college career where it's been going to that same trajectory, and something happens. I make a little mistake; I make a little misstep. So, knowing where I could score was really just what was going through my mind throughout the last 30 seconds."
No. 9 Vance VomBaur delivered a tech fall over Mason Gibson (141), but the Scarlet Knights closed out the half with back-to-back ranked decisions form their veterans. Clark landed a takedown early on No. 17 Drew Roberts and added more than two minutes of riding time for a 5-1 final. Tied 1-1 with No. 19 Charlie Millard in overtime, White struck quick for a 4-1 decision.
Anthony gets it done in OVERTIME!
— Rutgers Wrestling (@RUWrestling) February 7, 2026
Watch on @BigTenPlus #RelentlessPursuit | #GoRU pic.twitter.com/CeweiXctzo
The four victories before the midpoint put Rutgers up 13-5 with five matches to go.
No. 20 Andrew Barbosa (165) wrestled tough in a 2-0 loss to No. 11 Andrew Sparks, but Pinto rose to the occasion to counter. Pinto landed three takedowns in a back-and-forth match against No. 24 Ethan Riddle, then used a takedown and back points in the closing seconds for an 18-9 major decision.
Lenny gets his Jersey Mike's Arena moment!
— Rutgers Wrestling (@RUWrestling) February 7, 2026
Watch on @BigTenPlus #RelentlessPursuit | #GoRU pic.twitter.com/qz6gCptFN6
No. 21 Shane Cartagena-Walsh (184) landed a takedown on reigning NCAA bronze medalist No. 4 Max McEnelly, but loss by 15-7 major decision. The bonus points from the Golden Gophers. Made it just a 17-12 team score with two matches remaining.
Cotton used theatrics to put away one of the biggest wins in program history in style. Tied 1-1 in sudden victory against Nelson, Cotton muscled around and caught Nelson on his back to secure the dual. A loss from No. 19 Hunter Catka (HWT) against No. 10 Koy Hopke made no difference in the 23-15 final.
"This atmosphere is amazing," Cotton said. "Seeing these fans, seeing everybody here who's super in it and just the passion they have for the sport of wrestling here is just amazing."
Up Next
Rutgers wrestles at Michigan State on Saturday, Feb. 13 in East Lansing. The 6:30 p.m. match will stream on Big Ten Plus.
Box Score
No. 17 Rutgers 23, No. 6 Minnesota 15
125: 28/28 Ayden Smith (RU) over 10/8 Jore Volk (MINN) by dec., 7-2; RU leads, 3-0
133: 27/31 Dylan Shawver (RU) over Brandon Morvari (MINN) by MD, 12-2; RU leads, 7-0
141: 9/9 Vance VomBaur (MINN) over Mason Gibson (RU) by TF, 18-3 (7:00); RU leads, 7-5
149: 29/NR Andrew Clark (RU) over 17/19 Drew Roberts (MINN) by dec., 5-1; RU leads, 10-5
157: 29/32 Anthony White (RU) over 19/15 Charlie Millard (MINN) by SV1, 4-1; RU leads, 13-5
165: 11/13 Andrew Sparks (MINN) over 20/25 Andrew Barbosa (RU) by dec., 2-0; RU leads, 13-8
174: 16/20 Lenny Pinto (RU) over24/22 Ethan Riddle (MINN) by MD, 18-9; RU leads, 17-8
184: 4/4 Max McEnelly (MINN) over 21/18 Shane Cartagena-Walsh (RU) by MD, 15-7; RU leads, 17-12
197: 16/16 Remy Cotton (RU) over 25/25 Gavin Nelson (MINN) by fall (8:13); RU leads, 23-12
HWT: 10/12 Koy Hopke (MINN) over 19/19 Hunter Catka (RU) by dec., 4-2; RU wins, 23-15
Rankings Intermat/FloWrestling
Players Mentioned
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