Wrestling has already wrestled two matches and opens up its home schedule facing perennial power Lehigh today at 1 pm. To get things started, we sought out Rutgers alum and BTN announcer and On3 writer Nick Kosko to preview the season.
OTB: Nick, for those who might be unfamiliar, what is your background as a wrestler and broadcaster?
Nick: I wrestled from middle school through college, earning a varsity letter at Egg Harbor Township HS in NJ. I then wrestled for the Rutgers Club Wrestling team from 2015-18
and eventually served as Team President. I’d like to say I am a far better broadcaster than competitor in the sport! HA!
OTB: How long have you been with BTN wrestling?
Nick: I have been broadcasting Rutgers Wrestling since my student days on WRSU-FM (2015-18) and joined Big Ten+ for a variety of Rutgers Athletics in the Fall of 2018. I was first the color commentator alongside Lou Brogno on Big Ten+. Then in 2021, I took over as the Play-by-Play Broadcaster with Matt Howe serving as my color analyst. In addition to Rutgers, I am entering Year 2 with Drexel Wrestling and have called matches for UPenn, Princeton, the Ivy League Championships (ESPN+) and the New Jersey State Wrestling Championships on NJ.com
OTB: What do you see as the strengths of the team this year? More specifically, where do you see the strength of both individuals and weights? Are there any significant holes?
Nick: I’m with Coach Goodale on this: This is the deepest team in years. The strengths lie with the veterans, such as Remy Cotton (197), Andrew Barbosa (165) and Shane Cartagena-Walsh (184). The young talent is some of the best they’ve ever had, when considering who can wrestle right away and compete for the podium
OTB: Okay, the newcomers to the team: Brandt Harer, Anthony Knox, transfers Brett Unger (Cornell) and Daniel Herrera (Iowa State) – they were very good in Rutgers’ openers; what is their impact on the team?
Nick: Knox is the type of wrestler who can win an NCAA title right away, this season. He is in the mold of Anthony Ashnault and Nick Suriano when they arrived on the collegiate scene. Some say Knox was a better high school wrestler than those two. I won’t get into that debate, it’s a long one, but he is that good. Brandt Harer was a highly regarded prospect and I believe he can contend for the AA podium this season. He is a menace on top and it’s good to see him training with his brother Conner full-time again. It should make both of them better.
Ungar is an AA caliber wrestler as well and brings a great veteran leadership to the team. It’s all about managing his health and making sure he’s good to go during Big Ten season after injuries played a factor the last couple of years at Cornell. Herrera brings a steadiness to heavyweight for Rutgers, despite highly ranked Lukas Zalota coming in next year (Class of 2027). “P-Nut,” as they call him, qualified for NCAAs in 2025 for Iowa State as a freshman. He should be able to get back!
OTB: There have been some comments about Goodale teams: they’re good dual, but not tournament squads – do you see that? Why do you think people might think that? Or are they just wrong?
Nick: The results speak for themselves. Rutgers has been highly successful under Goodale for nearly two decades, but once you taste having two NCAA champions in a year, you want to get that back. They’ve had successful seasons at NCAAs since (2021 with 3 AAs, ‘22 had 2 AAs and ‘24 had 2 AAs). But you look at 2023, ‘25 and ‘26 without getting someone on the podium and that’s what it comes down to. I love the dual meet more than most and Rutgers is a highly successful team. They’ve just struggled to peak in March in recent years, but Goodale has the tools, staff and wrestlers to break that mold again and start a new stretch of success.
OTB: Bonus points can be the key decider in any bout or match. For some, RU teams are sometimes lacking in pushing for the extra points (OK, it’s my feeling); so far this year it seems to be a strength. Do you think it’s been an issue and does that seem to be changing?
Nick: Not necessarily. Without seeing a statistical breakdown in front of me, I won’t make any grand statements. It comes down to what your goals are. Are you content with just winning and hanging on? Or do you want to pour it on? The additions of freshmen like Knox and Harer indicate the latter moving forward.
OTB: Fans are fans and they make all sorts of comments on blogs, including OTB about wrestle offs: how/why does Scott do it the way he does? They don’t seem to be true WO, more indicator bouts. Thoughts on that thinking?
Nick: I’m fine with either method. Wrestle offs don’t necessarily determine the best guy because at this level, these guys train with each other every day and know every tendency. The flexibility of the 5-for-5 rule will put indicator matches, or in my mind, “indicator situations” to a real test. How do these guys perform in duals and in-season tournaments? When the pressure is on to win a dual or to beat a higher ranked guy? We’ll see more mixing and matching this year.
OTB: We’ve mentioned Anthony Knox: a comment by BTN’s Shane Sparks was that regardless of the NJSIAA’s ruling, he’s going to refer to him as a 4-time champ; your reaction to that? And what has Knox’s impact been on the team so far? On recruiting?
Nick: I broadcasted and witnessed Anthony Knox win four NJ State titles. I trust my eyes. His arrival at Rutgers will aim to prove, again, that AA accolades and NCAA titles can be won in New Jersey, right at Rutgers.
OTB: After serving as an assistant at Princeton, Anthony Ashnault has returned to the banks as the associate head coach. How has his return impacted the team and staff?
Nick: I’ve always said Anthony Ashnault would be a great head coach one day and he’s well on his way. The difference in vibes within the room and around the program are evident. He’s the program’s favorite son, established his own athletic legend in Piscataway, and now is back to pass it on to guys like Knox, Harer and even the veterans who get a fresh voice in the room. He can still scrap too! As a classmate of mine, I’ve long been a fan of Ashnault. He’s the poster child of what’s possible here.
OTB: Money is playing a bigger role in college ahletics, even in the Olympic/“non-revenue” sports. What do you see as the difference/gap between RU and the big guns both in the B1G and nationally?
Nick: Resources ($$) and RTC capabilities are the difference between Penn State, Oklahoma State, Iowa and others when it comes to their title success, mostly Penn State of course. When you’ve had a head start in Regional Training Center (RTC) athletes and coaches, the gap can widen. Money talks but having the best guys in the room breeds competition and attracts the best talent coming up. Rutgers has definitely invested in the RTC aspect with guys like Sammy Sasso being an athlete and coach, as well as Zach Elam being that elite heavyweight presence in the room from a veteran standpoint.
OTB: Finances again, this time NIL. As you see RU and talk with others, where is RU compared to the rest of B1G?
Nick: I’m not privy to NIL figures for the program, but I can make an educated guess AD Keli Zinn is a big fan of collegiate wrestling and will do everything she can to elevate the program, and the entire department, to compete across the country with the biggest and most successful wrestling programs.
OTB: Rutgers attendance and the crowds at Jersey Mike’s. They’re consistently among the top five or so in the country – how do you view RU’s crowds compared to others in B1G?
Nick: Rutgers’ crowd is always electric and the schedule should help this year when it comes to more sellouts. Jersey fans are the most passionate in the country. I’m very excited about Lehigh, Penn State, Iowa and others coming to Jersey Mike’s Arena this year.
OTB: Finally, the 2026-27 season: any record prediction? How about for the B1G tournament?
Nick: I’ll let the athletes and coaches do the talking and performing this year. I’m looking forward to documenting another great year!
