Rutgers Wrestling earned its first ranked win of the 2025-26 season, and its biggest win in the last decade, when it upset No.6 Minnesota 23-15 on Friday night. The Scarlet Knights won 6 out of the 10 bouts, 2 by major decision and one by pin.
Rutgers would start the match hot, winning four out of the first five bouts. To start, No.28 125 pounder Ayden Smith would work a 7-2 decision over No.10 Joe Volk, before No. 27/31 133-pounder Dylan Shawver worked a 12-2 major decision over Brandon Morvari to
give the Knights a 7-0 lead. Minnesota would win the 141-pounders before No.29/NR Andrew Clark earned a 5-1 decision over No.17/19 Drew Roberts and No. 29/32 Anthony White worked a victory over No.19/15 Charlie Millard to give Rutgers a 13-5 lead in the duel.
No.16/20 174-pounder Lenny Pinto would register Rutgers second major decision of the match with his victory over 24/22 Ethan Riddle. The match would start to get dicier later on, as Minnesota would secure wins in the 165-pounders and the 184-pounders to shrink the Knights lead to five heading into the final two bouts.
In the second to last bout of the duel, No.16 194-pounder Remy Cotton would earn a stunning overtime victory over No.25 Gavin Nelson. Cotton would work Nelson onto his back and secured the Knights victory in the duel by pinning his opponent. The Heavyweight result did not affect the outcome of the match.
Rutgers Wrestling will be back in action next Friday as they are set to travel to East Lansing to take on the Michigan State Spartans. The match will start at 6:30 pm ET, with streaming available on BTN+.
Match Results:
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
