Two former Rutgers wrestlers who entered the transfer portal at the end of last season have already found new teams. Former Rutgers 125-pounder Ayden Smith, who was a starter for Rutgers this past season, is now an Iowa State Cyclone, and Max Hermes, a junior who wrestled in a reserve role for the 157-pounders, has committed to wrestle for Ohio.
Smith decided to enter the transfer portal after the season. Quincidentally, Rutgers also received a major commitment at the 125-pounder spot during the season from
four-time state champion Anthony Knox. Some believe that it was Knox’s commitment that pushed Smith into looking for another team. According to Bill Evans of Nj.com, “Knox is arguably Rutgers’ biggest recruit since Nick Suriano transferred from Penn State in 2017. ” Knox is also competing in the US Open this weekend.
Rutgers has also added two wrestlers out of the transfer portal. Former Iowa State heavyweight Daniel Herrera, who qualified for the NCAA tournament his freshman year before redshirting his sophomore year, will spend next season on the banks. He was brought in to help replace Hunter Catka, who is no longer with the program.
In addition to Herrera, Brett Ungar, a former NJ state champion at Hunterdon Central who spent the last four seasons at Cornell, announced that he will be coming to Rutgers for his final year of eligibility. Ungar, who is expected to wrestle in the 133-pound slot, is a two-time NCAA tournament qualifier. This will be Ungar’s last season of eligibility, while Herrera still has three seasons of eligibility.
