The SKWC had a number of standout performances from this past weekend. Joseph Olivieri and Jacob Butler both won individual titles at Lock Haven’s Mat Town Open II on Sunday. Rutgers wrestling also competed tough with No. 9 Minnesota, securing four individual ranked wins before losing to the Gophers, 20-12, at Jersey Mike’s Arena this past Saturday.

Butler, Olivieri Win Titles at Mat town open

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Jacob Butler (157) and Joseph Olivieri (Unatt.-141) claimed individual titles to highlight action for No. 13 Rutgers wrestling at the Mat Town Open on Sunday in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. Seven Scarlet Knights placed at the all-day tournament, including top-three finishes from Butler, Olivieri and rookie Max Hermes (Unatt.-133).

In his first varsity action since November, Butler went 4-0 en route to his individual title at 157 pounds. In his championship match against 2022 NCAA qualifier Dashawn Farber (Lock Haven), Butler used two takedowns, an escape point and riding time to cruise to an 8-0 major decision. Butler also produced a pin in his first bout of the day.

Competing unattached, Olivieri muscled four decisions, including a win in tie breaker two to Carter Bailey (Lehigh) to secure his individual title at 141 pounds. Currently in redshirt, this was Olivieri’s first open appearance since he wrestled to a runner-up finish at the Princeton Open in November.

Hermes finished third at 141 pounds, while Kyle Epperly (HWT) closed out the day in fourth. John O’Donnell (HWT), Brandan Chletsos (125) and Dylan Weaver (157) also placed for the Scarlet Knights.

no. 13 wrestling loses close dual to no. 9 minnesota

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 13 Rutgers wrestling (10-3, 3-2) lost a tough 20-12 dual to No. 9 Minnesota (6-2, 1-2) on Saturday afternoon in front of 3,438 fans at Jersey Mike’s Arena. RU picked up four ranked wins against the Gophers, which included decisions from No. 7 Yaraslau Slavikouski (HWT), No. 13 Jackson Turley (174) No. 16 Dean Peterson and No. 20 Mitch Moore (141).

Eight of the 10 bouts were decided by three points or less, with the Gophers picking up overtime victories at 133 and 197 pounds en route to the dual win. Minnesota – who checked in at No. 9 in this week’s NWCA Coaches Poll – is the second of four consecutive top-12 opponents RU will face in the coming weeks, along with No. 1 Penn State, No. 7 Ohio State and No. 11 Michigan.

“It was a good match but we came up on the short end of a lot of those matches and overtime matches,” said head coach Scott Goodale. “That is clearly the difference. We got upset at two or three weights. That is the difference in a duel.”

With an non-traditional start at 141 pounds, Moore opened against No. 21 Vance VomBauer, using a takedown late in the third period to secure the 4-1 decision. Minnesota picked up the next three matches to take an 11-3 lead before Turley faced two-time NCAA qualifier Andrew Sparks. Turley landed two takedowns on Sparks and fended off a late comeback attempt for the 7-4 final, as Rutgers headed into the break trailing just 11-6.

Upsets at 184 and 197 followed for Rutgers, with previously undefeated No. 9 John Poznanski losing a tough 4-1 decision in overtime to No. 24 Garett Joles. Joles’ overtime victory gave Minnesota a 17-6 advantage with three bouts to go.

Rutgers muscled back-to-back decisions from Slavikouski and Peterson. Slavikouski landed two takedowns on No. 29 Bennett Tabor for an 8-2 decision, while Peterson also produced two takedowns in his 6-4 decision over No. 11 Patrick McKee – a two-time All-American.

Trailing just 17-12 heading into the final bout of the afternoon, the Scarlet Knights needed a tech fall for a chance to win the dual. However, a loss from No. 8 Dylan Shawver (133) in overtime to No. 26 Tyler Wells sealed the dual for Minnesota.

Box Score
No. 9 Minnesota 20, No. 13 Rutgers 12
141: 20/15 Mitch Moore (RU) over 21/23 Vance VomBauer (MINN) by dec., 4-1; RU leads, 3-0
149: 13/NR Drew Roberts (MINN) over Michael Cetta (RU) by dec., 3-0; dual tied, 3-3
157: 6/6 Michael Blockhus (MINN) over Al DeSantis (RU) by TF, 18-3 (7:00); MINN leads, 8-3
165: 29/NR Blaine Benner (MINN) over Luke Gayer (RU) by dec., 2-0; MINN leads, 11-3
174: 13/17 Jackson Turley (RU) over NR/20 Andrew Sparks (MINN) by dec., 7-4; MINN leads, 11-6
184: Max McEnelly (MINN) over 22/24 Brian Soldano (RU) by dec., 4-2; MINN leads, 14-6
197: 24/26 Garrett Joles (MINN)  over 9/11 John Poznanski (RU) by SV1, 4-1; MINN leads, 17-6
HWT: 7/7 Yaraslau Slavikouski (RU) over 29/33 Bennett Tabor (MINN) by dec., 8-2; MINN leads, 17-9
125: 16/20 Dean Peterson (RU) over 11/14 Patrick McKee (MINN) by dec., 6-4; MINN leads, 17-12
133: 26/23 Tyler Wells (MINN) over 8/11 Dylan Shawver (RU) by SV1, 5-2; MINN wins, 20-12