No. 14 Rutgers wrestling faces tough task against No. 7 Ohio State
The Rutgers wrestling team will continue its grueling Big Ten schedule against Ohio State this weekend. The Scarlet Knights (10-3, 3-2) will be looking to snap their two-match losing skid against the Buckeyes (12-1, 4-0) on Sunday.
No. 14 Rutgers has historically struggled against No. 7 Ohio State. The Knights have never defeated the Buckeyes and most recently lost to them 27-12 last season.
Ohio State has been one of the best teams in the country this season, as it remains undefeated against conference opponents and owns ranked wins over NC State, Cornell and Michigan. The Buckeyes also boast a fully-ranked lineup that will significantly test Rutgers.
No. 13 junior 125-pounder Dean Peterson is coming off a strong 6-4 decision win against No. 14 Patrick McKee. Peterson will face another ranked opponent, No. 24 Brendan McCrone, this weekend.
No. 13 junior 133-pounder Dylan Shawver has lost his last two bouts but will look to bounce back against No. 12 Nic Bouzakis. It has been tough sledding for Shawver, but a win would move him back up the national rankings.
No. 20 graduate student 141-pounder Mitch Moore returned to his winning ways last Saturday. Moore will have his toughest matchup of the season against No. 3 Jesse Mendez, who is 19-1 this campaign.
Graduate student 149-pounder Jacob Butler, who was out with an injury, has not wrestled since the Black Knight Invitational on Nov. 19, 2023. Butler returned to the mat last Sunday at the Mat Town Open and won the individual title for the 157-pound weight class. Butler dominated against his opponents, landing a pin and securing an 8-0 major decision in the championship match.
"I think it was really beneficial for me mentally going into it because I felt like I had nothing to lose," Butler said about competing in the tournament. "Going out there and having a good time kind of frames your mind to really be relaxed in every match and makes it a lot easier to wrestle that way."
When Butler transferred to the Knights, he was the team's starter at 149 pounds. Butler has since moved up to the 157-pound weight class, making room for junior 149-pounder Michael Cetta in the lineup. Butler will likely wrestle at the 157-pound weight class on Sunday.
"My buddy, Michael Cetta, has been wrestling really good at 149, and we just got some moving parts going on," Butler said. "If 157's gonna be the best thing for me and for the team, then I'll try it out and see how it works. It's feeling pretty good — I'm making the adjustment."
No. 13 senior 174-pounder Jackson Turley has won nine straight matches and will face No. 11 Rocco Welsh, who is 14-3 on the season.
Despite the 20-12 loss to Minnesota, Rutgers battled in every bout and kept it close. The Knights lost six bouts but only one was lost by more than 3 points. To earn an upset win against Ohio State, Rutgers will need to win these tight bouts.
"To win big duals … You gotta switch those close losses into wins," said head coach Scott Goodale. "There's a little bit of tactics, but a lot of it's a mindset and a want to be in that position and go get it and want it a little bit more ... For us to beat a team like Ohio State, you're gonna have to win a lot of close matches."
The Buckeyes will be coming off a match against Penn State on Friday night. Goodale thinks that despite the quick turnaround for Ohio State, the Knights will still face one of their toughest foes this season.
"We have to wrestle our match, and we're gonna get an incredible opponent, one of the best in the country," he said. "Gotta figure out a way to get something done here from an individual standpoint too. I think maybe that's more important."
Sunday's contest will begin at 1 p.m. at Jersey Mike's Arena on Livingston campus and will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus and 88.7 WRSU-FM.
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