Rutgers University wrestling defeated Princeton University 28-9 on Feb. 16 at Jersey Mike’s Arena, marking the Scarlet Knights’ fifth consecutive win over the Tigers in their ongoing in-state rivalry. The event drew a crowd of 3,820 fans and saw Rutgers secure victories in seven out of ten matches.
The match is significant as it continues Rutgers’ dominance over Princeton, with the Scarlet Knights having won 29 of the last 30 meetings between the two schools since 1993. The team also retained the B1G-IVY Trophy with this victory.
Key performances included a top-10 win by Andrew Clark at 149 pounds over Eligh Rivera and a ranked victory by Andrew Barbosa at 165 pounds against Ty Whalen. Bonus points were added by Joseph Olivieri (141), Remy Cotton (165), Hunter Catka (heavyweight), and Shane Cartagena-Walsh (184). Anthony White contributed with a decision win at 165 pounds.
Head coach Scott Goodale said, “[Princeton] wrestled really hard, but our guys continue to find ways to win. It’s a different guy every night. It’s really good to have Joey [Olivieri] back. He’s the spark we’ve been missing, and we got him back at the right time.”
The evening also served as Senior Night for several Rutgers athletes who were recognized before the dual meet. After an early lead by Princeton, Rutgers responded with three consecutive bonus-point victories to take control of the match. The Scarlet Knights secured wins in their final four bouts to clinch the overall victory.
Looking ahead, Rutgers will close its regular season against Hofstra on Feb. 18 in Hempstead, New York.