Rutgers wrestling picks up first dual win of 2026.
After falling to No.13 Michigan on Friday, No.17 Rutgers wrestling won its first Big Ten dual of the season by beating RV Purdue 24-9. The Scarlet Knights rattled off four victories in the final five bouts to pull off the win.
The dual started with the 197-pounders, with Rutgers’ No.18/16 Remy Cotton landing three take-downs on No. 22 Ben Vanadia en route to his 11-3 major decision win. Cotton would win all three periods of the match to put Rutgers up 4-0 in terms of team points
Next up were the heavyweights, as No.19/20 Hunter Catka started the match by landing two takedowns on his opponent during the first period. He would land one more in the third period, securing the major decision and putting Rutgers up 8 going into the first break.
After the first break, both teams would send out their 125-pounders. After a scoreless first period, No. 27/32 Ayden Smith would land a two-point reversal to take the lead. Purdue’s Ashton Jackson would tie it in the third period before heading into a sudden victory fourth period. Smith secured the sudden victory to give the Knights an 11-point lead.
No.26/26 Dylan Shawver, who recently earned his 100th win during his collegiate career, wrestled for Rutgers in the 133-pound slot. After one scoreless period, Shawver would open the scoring by posting a one-point escape in the second period. After Purdue’s Blake Boarman earned one point in the third period, he would land a take-down in sudden victory to secure the match for Purdue. RU leads 11-3.
Mason Gibson wrestled for Rutgers in the 141-pound slot and seized an early lead by landing a takedown in the opening period. Gibson also landed a two-point reversal in the second period to hold a 5-1 lead heading into the third period. However, a late rally by Purdue’s Vincent Paino gave him the 7-5 decision. RU Leads 11-6 heading into the intermission.
The dual resumed with the 149-pounders, with No. 30/NR Andrew Clark Wrestling against No.21 Gavin Brown. Clark would open the scoring in the second period by earning a one-point escape. Clark would earn an extra point for riding time as he secured the 2-0 decision to put Rutgers up 14-6
The 157 pounders would have the Knights No. 33/NR Tony White face off against the Boilermakers Stoney Buell. Buell would earn one point in the second period before White would earn a one-point neutral in the third to tie it up. After a scoreless third period, White would pull off the sudden victory to give the Knights a 17-6 lead in the duel.
No.21/26 Andrew Barbosa would wrestle for Rutgers in the 165-pound slot, earning two takedowns in the first period to go into the second up 6-2. He would earn another takedown in the second period to go into the third up 10-3. After a few Purdue neutrals, Barbosa would land two takedowns to pull off the major decision. Rutgers leads 21-6
No.10 Lenny Pinto squared off against No.17 Brody Baumann in the 174-pound slot. After a scoreless first period, Baumann would earn one point before Pinto earned a takedown to go up 3-1. Baumann would earn a neutral point as Pinto headed into the third period up 3-2. Pinto would earn a neutral of his own in the third period before Baumann would land a three-point takedown to earn the one-point decision. RU leads 21-9
The last match of the day would see Rutgers No. 15/16 Shane Cartagena-Walsh vs Purdue’s No.16 James Rowley. After a scoreless first period, both wrestlers would earn one point in the second before heading into the third tied at 1. Cartagena-Walsh was awarded one point in the third period after an unsportsmanlike call on the Boilermakers. He would hold on to secure the 2-1 decision and the 15-point team win for the Knights.
Rutgers will hit the road and head to Illinois for its next two matches, as they are scheduled to take on Northwestern on Friday, January 23rd, and No. 11 Illinois on Sunday, January 25th.
197: 18/16 Remy Cotton (RU) over 22/21 Ben Vanadia (PUR) by MD, 11-3; RU leads, 4-0
HWT: 20/19 Hunter Catka (RU) over Hayden Filipovich (PUR) by MD, 11-2; RU leads, 8-0
125: 27/32 Ayden Smith (RU) over Ashton Jackson (PUR) by SV1, 5-2; RU leads, 11-0
133: Blake Boarman (PUR) over 26/25 Dylan Shawver (RU) by SV1, 4-1; RU leads, 11-3
141: Vincent Paino (PUR) over Mason Gibson (RU) by dec., 7-5; RU leads, 11-6
149: 30/NR Andrew Clark (RU) over 21/33 Gavin Brown (PUR) by dec., 2-0; RU leads, 14-6
157: 33/NR Anthony White (RU) over 22/16 Stoney Buell (PUR) by SV1, 4-1; RU leads, 17-6
165: 21/26 Andrew Barbosa (RU) over Isaac Ruble (PUR) by MD, 17-6; RU leads, 21-6
174: 17/22 Brody Baumann (PUR) over 10/10 Lenny Pinto (RU) by dec., 5-4; RU leads, 21-9
184: 15/16 Shane Cartagena-Walsh (RU) over 26/28 James Rowley (PUR) by dec., 2-1; RU wins, 24-9
Category: General Sports
