Rutgers wrestling, ranked No. 16, defeated Maryland 30-9 on Jan. 30 in front of 3,375 fans at Jersey Mike’s Arena. The Scarlet Knights secured their third Big Ten Conference win of the season with a strong finish, winning their final six bouts.
The match was significant as Rutgers continued its dominance over Maryland, marking the team’s eleventh consecutive victory against the Terrapins since both programs joined the Big Ten in the 2014-15 season. Five Rutgers wrestlers contributed bonus points during the dual, including major decisions and technical falls that helped build a decisive lead.
Head coach Scott Goodale said, “It was good to see our young guys do well tonight and score a lot of points out there. I liked the way our guys finished the match tonight.”
Ayden Smith opened for Rutgers with a decision at 125 pounds before Maryland took three straight matches to lead 9-3. Anthony White started Rutgers’ comeback with an 18-1 technical fall at 157 pounds, narrowing Maryland’s lead to one point by intermission. Andrew Barbosa regained the lead for Rutgers with a shutout technical fall at 165 pounds, followed by Ryan Ford’s major decision at 174 pounds.
Shane Cartagena-Walsh pinned his opponent at 184 pounds for his second fall of the season, nearly securing victory for Rutgers. Remy Cotton and Brandon Toranzo closed out the night with wins in their respective weight classes.
Looking ahead, Rutgers will face Rider on Saturday in Lawrenceville. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+ from Alumni Gymnasium.