Six Rutgers Wrestlers Listed in National Rankings
RU Listed at No. 24 in D1CollegeWrestling.Net Rankings

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Nov. 17, 2009) - Six members of the Rutgers wrestling team appeared in multiple national rankings released this week after a shutout victory against Sacred Heart. 43-0, in its season opener on Nov. 8 and a third-place finish at the Oklahoma Gold Tournament last Saturday.

Dominick Russo (Netcong, N.J.), Lamar Brown (Red Bank, N.J.), Bill Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J.) , Trevor Melde (Hewitt, N.J.), David Greenwald (Union, N.J.) amd Joesph Langell, (Howell, N.J.), were listed in national rankings of their respective weight class.

Additionally, Rutgers was listed at No. 24 in the D1CollegeWrestling.net.

The Scarlet Knights went 39-29 overall at the Oklahoma Gold Tournament.Rutgers totaled 13 pin fall victories, including four from Russo. Russo knocked off two wrestlers ranked in the top-20 in his final pair of matches to claim the heavyweight title.

Russo highlights RU's presence in the national rankings with three top-10 appearances in the heavyweight division, listed as high as No. 7 by WrestlingReport.com. Intermat (No. 10) and D1CollegeWrestling.net (No. 9) also recognized Russo in their rankings.

Russo is 5-0 on the season with all of his victories coming by pin fall. Russo is averaging a 4:03 time span per pin this season.

Brown also earned three national listings and is positioned as high as No. 16 by both Intermat and D1CollegeWrestling.net. The Red Bank, N.J. native is listed as the 17th best 197-pound wrestler by WrestlingReport.com.

Last weekend, Brown reached the finals of his bracket at the Oklahoma Gold Tournament and defeated then ranked No.18 Richard Starks of Army in the semifinals.
Along with Brown and Russo, Ashnault and Langel also reached the finals of their respective brackets.

Ashnault jumped from No. 24 to No. 20 in D1CollegeWrestling.net's 133-pound rankings.
The RU newcomer jumped four spots in WrestlingReport.com's listing to No. 23. Ashnault boasts a 4-1 on the season with two pin falls.

Langel appeared in the national rankings for the first time this season as he was selected as the 24th-best 125-pound wrestler by both WrestlingReport.com and D1CollegeWrestling.net. The Howell, N.J. native went 3-1 at the Oklahoma Gold Tournament, including a 7-1 victory over then-No. 14 Nikko Triggas of Ohio State.

Rutgers will be back in action this Sunday when it travels to Binghamton, N.Y. for the Sprawl & Brawl College Wrestling Duals. RU will battle No. 17 Penn State, Northern Iowa and Sacred Heart.

Rutgers Wrestling 2009-10 National Rankings
(As of Nov. 17)

Team
Rank               Publication    
24                    D1CollegeWrestling.net

Joseph Langel - 125 Pounds
Rank Publication
24 D1CollegeWrestling.net
24                    WrestlingReport.com

Billy Ashnault - 133 Pounds
Rank Publication
20 D1CollegeWrestling.net
23 WrestlingReport.com

Trevor Melde - 141 Pounds
Rank Publication
22 D1 College Wrestling.net
20 WrestlingReport.com

David Greenwald - 149 Pounds
Rank Publication
22 D1 College Wrestling.net
21 WrestlingReport.com

Lamar Brown - 197 Pounds
Rank Publication
16                    InterMat NCAA Division I Rankings
16 D1 College Wrestling.net
17 WrestlingReport.com

Dominick Russo - Heavyweight
Rank Publication
10 InterMat NCAA Division I Rankings
9 D1CollegeWrestling.net
7 WrestlingReport.com
Rutgers Finishes Third, Russo Wins Bracket Title at Oklahoma Gold Tournament

BROCKPORT, N.Y. - (November 14, 2009) - Redshirt-junior Dominick Russo (Netcong, N.J) of the Rutgers wrestling team won the 285-pound bracket title of the 11th Annual Oklahoma Gold Tournament Saturday night to highlight RU's impressive third-place finish at the event hosted by Brockport at the Tuttle North Gymnasium.

Russo won the title with a tournament-best four pins totaling 16:48. The Netcong, N.J. native is 5-0 on the season, with all of his victories coming by pin. The Scarlet Knights scored 12 pin falls on the day.

No. 18 Oklahoma won the event with a team score of 144.5. Following Oklahoma was No. 3 Ohio State (144), Rutgers (120.5), No. 12 Edinboro (110), Kent State (100.5), Army (81), Liberty (37.5) and host Brockport (11.5).

Along with Russo, Redshirt freshmen Joseph Langel (Howell, N.J.) junior Bill Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J.) redshirt senior Lamar Brown (Red Bank, N.J.) all reached the finals of their respective bracket.

Rutgers head coach Scott Goodale was very pleased with his team's performance and called it the best tournament showing for the Scarlet Knights during his tenure.

"It was a very complete effort by our guys today," said Goodale. "To finish ahead of some ranked teams and to have a winner, four finalists and eight semifinalists was incredible. The amount of falls we got was tremendous. We have had a great start to the season so far. We are right in the thick of it.

"Russo continues to show hard work pays off. He stepped up big for us today with four pins in four matches. He pinned some of the best guys in the country."

Rutgers will be back on the mat next Sunday when it travels to Binghamton, N.Y. for a quad-meet with No. 14 Penn State, Northern Iowa and Sacred Heart.

Oklahoma Gold Tournament Final Team Standings
Pl. Points Team
1 144.5 #18 Oklahoma
2 144 #3 Ohio State
3 120.5 Rutgers
4 110 #12 Edinboro
5 100.5 Kent State
6 81 Army
7 37.5 Liberty
8 11.5 Brockport

Outstanding Wrestler - Dustin Kilgore - 184 lbs. - Kent State
Most Falls - Dominck Russo - Rutgers - 4 falls - 16:48
Fastest Fall - Sean Katz - Liberty - 0:33
Rutgers Wrestling Dominates Sacred Heart, 43-0, in 2009-10 Season Opener

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (November 8, 2009) The Rutgers wrestling team opened the 2009-10 season Sunday afternoon with a dominating performance as the Scarlet Knights won all 10 matches against the Pioneers for a 43-0 victory at the William H. Pitt Center in Fairfield, Conn.

"We got after it today and I was excited about how we performed," said Rutgers head coach Scott Goodale. "It was good to go against somebody else and it gave us a chance to see where we are at."

Senior Kellen Bradley (Newton, N.J.), redshirt junior Dominick Russo (Netcong, N.J.) newcomer junior Bill Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J.) and freshman Jesse Boyden (Kelinworth, N.J.) all claimed pin victories.

14th-ranked Russo won the quickest bout as he pinned Paul Schweighardt in 1:32.

19th-ranked Lamar Brown (Red Bank, N.J.) showed no rust after redshirting last season as he won by major decision over Brandon Lapp, 12-1.

Along with Boyden, freshmen Vincent Dellefave (Toms River, N.J.), Daniel Rinaldi (Lodi, N.J.) and Braden Turner (Edison, N.J.) all picked up victories.

Turner defeated Anthony Priore by a 4-2 decision. Priore was ranked fifth in the 157-weight class of the preseason Colonial Athletic Association rankings.

"I was concerned about how they (freshmen) would do with their first match and how they would react," said Goodale. "Dellefave started us off with the first win. They all did a good job of competing and scoring bonus points today and that was exciting."

Sophomores Trevor Melde (Hewitt, N.J.) and Gregory Zanetti (Edison, N.J.) also picked up victories for Rutgers.

The Scarlet Knights will be back in action next Saturday at the Brockport Gold Tournament in Brockport, N.Y.

Rutgers 43, Sacred Heart 0
November 8, 2009
Fairfield, Conn.
William H. Pitt Center

125 -Vincent Dellefave (RU) dec. Pat Feely (SHU) 3-1
133 - Bill Ashnault (RU) pins Justin Belanger (SHU) 3:45
141 - Trevor Melde (RU) dec. Cory Dunn (SHU) 6-3
149 - Kellen Bradley (RU) pins Paul Galipeau (SHU) 4:50
157 -Braden Turner (RU) dec. Anthony Priore (SHU) 4-2
165 - Gregory Zanetti (RU) dec. Jonathon Rizzitello (SHU) 6-4
174 - Daniel Rinaldi (RU) dec. Michael Hartman (SHU) 10-4
184 - Jesse Boyden (RU) pins Sam Sheppard (SHU) 2:01
197 - #19 Lamar Brown (RU) major dec. Brandon Lapp (SHU) 12-1
285 - #14 Dominick Russo (RU) pins Paul Schweighardt (SHU) 1:32
Rutgers Wrestling Opens 2009-10 Season at Sacred Heart

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (November 7, 2009) The Rutgers wrestling team opens the 2009-10 season Sunday on the road against Sacred Heart at the William H. Pitt Center in Fairfield, Conn. for a 1 p.m. contest.

The Scarlet Knights are coming off a school record 20-win season in 2008-09. Five members of the Rutgers wrestling team were listed in the preseason national rankings of their respective weight class which were released this past week.

"I like where we are right now and our guys are ready to wrestling someone else for a change," said third-year Rutgers head coach Scott Goodale. "Sacred Heart is a good squad with some New Jersey guys that I know. It should be a good match."

Redshirt senior Lamar Brown (Red Bank, N.J.) and redshirt junior Dominick Russo (Netcong, N.J.) highlighted the rankings for Rutgers as they were listed on the InterMat 2009-10 NCAA Division I preseason individual lists.

InterMat ranks the top-20 individual wrestlers in each weight class and the top-25 teams.

Brown was listed at No. 19 in the 197-pound division. Russo appeared at No. 14 in the 285-pound weight class.

Sacred Heart head coach Casey Brewster is entering his third season at the helm. The Pioneers had three student-athletes listed in the CAA preseason rankings with redshirt senior Cory Dunn, redshirt sophomore Justin Belanger and junior Anthony Priore.
Five Rutgers Wrestlers Listed in Preseason National Rankings

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Nov. 4, 2009) - Five members of the Rutgers wrestling team were listed in national rankings of their respective weight class which were released this past week.

InterMat, Amateur Wrestling News, D1CollegeWrestling.net and WrestlingReport.com all released national and or conference rankings.

Redshirt junior Dominick Russo (Netcong, N.J.) led the way for the Scarlet Knights as he was listed in the top-16 in the heavyweight division of four national rankings and ranked as high as No. 12 by both WrestlingReport.com and D1CollegeWrestling.net.

Redshirt senior Lamar Brown (Red Bank, N.J.) earned three top-20 national rankings in the 197-weight class and was ranked as high as No. 18 by WrestlingReport.com.

Newcomer junior Bill Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J.) earned two national rankings in the 133-pound class as he was listed at No. 24 by D1CollegeWrestling.net and No. 27 by WrestlingReport.com. Both sites listed the 2008 NCAA Qualifier in the top-five of the 133-pound class in the EIWA.

Sophomore Trevor Melde (Hewitt, N.J.) was listed at No. 24 in the national 141-pound class rankings by WrestlingReport.com. WrestlingReport.com and D1CollegeWrestling.net listed Melde as the second-best 141-pound wrestler in the EIWA.

Redshirt junior David Greenwald (Union, N.J.) appeared in WrestlingReport.com's national rankings. The Scarlet Knights' 20008-09 highest dual meet point scorer was listed at No. 22 in the 149-pound class.

Freshman Dan Rinaldi (Lodi, N.J.), redshirt freshmen Jesse Boyden (Kelinworth, N.J.)  and Joe Langell, (Howell, N.J.), sophomore Greg Zannetti. (Edison, N.J.) and redshirt junior  Daryl Cocozzo (River Edge, N.J.) were all listed in conference rankings.

The RU wrestling squad has a big weekend coming up as head coach Scott Goodale will be inducted into the South Jersey Wrestling Hall of Fame Saturday evening at Masso's Columbus Manor on the Black Horse Pike in Williamstown, N.J. On Sunday, Rutgers will travel to Fairfield, Conn. to face Sacred Heart in the first dual meet off the season.

Rutgers Wrestling 2009-10 Preseason Individual Rankings

Joseph Langel - 125 Pounds
Rank Publication
NR/8 D1CollegeWrestling.net (Nationally/EIWA)
NR/HM/NR    WrestlingReport.com (Nationally/Atlantic Regional/EIWA)

Billy Ashnault - 133 Pounds
Rank Publication
24/4 D1CollegeWrestling.net (Nationally/EIWA)
27/11/5 WrestlingReport.com (Nationally/Atlantic Regional/EIWA)

Trevor Melde - 141 Pounds
Rank Publication
NR/2 D1CollegeWrestling.net (Nationally/EIWA)
24/9/2 WrestlingReport.com (Nationally/Atlantic Regional/EIWA)

David Greenwald - 149 Pounds
Rank Publication
NR/6 D1 College Wrestling.net (Nationally/EIWA)
22/14/NR WrestlingReport.com (Nationally/Atlantic Regional/EIWA)

Daryl Cocozzo - 157 Pounds
Rank Publication
NR/5 D1CollegeWrestling.net (Nationally/EIWA)
NR/HM/4 WrestlingReport.com (Nationally/Atlantic Regional/EIWA)

Gregory Zannetti - 165 Pounds
Rank Publication
NR/9 D1CollegeWrestling.net (Nationally/EIWA)
NR/HM/4 WrestlingReport.com (Nationally/Atlantic Regional/EIWA)

Daniel Rinaldi - 174 Pounds
Rank Publication
NR/6 D1CollegeWrestling.net (Nationally/EIWA)

Jesse Boyden - 184 Pounds
Rank Publication
NR/8 D1CollegeWrestling.net (Nationally/EIWA)
NR/HM/NR WrestlingReport.com (Nationally/Atlantic Regional/EIWA)

Lamar Brown - 197 Pounds
Rank Publication
19                    InterMat NCAA Division I Rankings
20/3 D1CollegeWrestling.net (Nationally/EIWA)
18/8/3 WrestlingReport.com (Nationally/Atlantic Regional/EIWA)

Dominick Russo - Heavyweight
Rank Publication
14 InterMat NCAA Division I Rankings
16 Amateur Wrestling News National Rankings
12/3 D1CollegeWrestling.net (Nationally/EIWA)
12/5/4 WrestlingReport.com (Nationally/Atlantic Regional/EIWA)

NR - Not Ranked
HM - Honorable Mention
Rutgers Wrestling Coaches Clinic set for October 18
 
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (August 24, 2009) - The 2009 Rutgers Wrestling Coaches Clinic is slated for Sunday, Oct. 18 at the College Avenue Gym, the RU coaching staff announced Monday.
 
The Rutgers staff and guests will cover all aspects of wrestling including coaching techniques, practice plans and match preparation. The head coach of Council Rock South, Brad Silimperi, will be this year's guest clinician.
 
The Rutgers coaching staff led the Scarlet Knights to a school-best 20-win season last year and guided three wrestlers to the NCAA Championships.
 
Registration prior to the day of the event is $50, while it is $60 at the door. To preregister for the event please send your name, school/club, and shirt size along with a check payable to the Scarlet Knight Wrestling Club to 130 College Ave. Gym, New Brunswick, NJ 08903. Each coach who attends will receive a Rutgers wrestling shirt and lunch.
 
The Scarlet Knights open the 2009 season at Sacred Heart at the William H. Pitt Health and Recreation Center on Nov. 7.
 
2009 Rutgers Coaches Clinic Schedule
October 18
College Avenue Gym
 
8:00-9:00am: Registration at College Avenue Gym/observe Rutgers team practice.
9:00-11:30am: Session 1: Brad Silimperi - technique, Cory Cooperman - Situational Drilling and Scott Goodale - recruiting, marketing your program and getting the most from your athletes
11:30-12:30pm: Lunch
12:30-2:30pm: Session 2: Silimperi - drills/ideas about running HS program and a "Council Rock South" practice.
--RU--
 
Alex Restrepo  |  Rutgers Athletic Communications
Louis Brown Athletic Center (RAC) | 83 Rockafeller Road |  Piscataway, NJ 08854
732-445-7746 (w) 985-373-4456 (c) | www.scarletknights.com

Rutgers' Pletcher Earns Wildcard Bid to Wrestling Nationals

Senior Becomes Third Scarlet Knight To Reach NCAAs

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (March 11, 2009) - Rutgers senior 165-poonder Matt Pletcher (Eastampton, N.J.) was awarded a wildcard bid to the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships when national qualifiers were announced Wednesday. He will join freshman 157-pounder Scott Winston (Jackson, N.J.) and sophomore heavyweight D.J. Russo (Netcong, N.J.) at Nationals, which will be held Thursday - Saturday, March 19-21 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo.

Pletcher owns a 33-11 record on the season and finished fourth in the 165-pound weight class at the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Championships last weekend. He is tied with Lee Getz (1984-87) for 21st in school history with 77 career victories.

It marks the first time since 2004 RU has sent three Scarlet Knights to Nationals.
Four Rutgers Scarlet Knight Wrestlers Place In EIWA Championships

Winston And Russo Earn Automatic Bids To Nationals

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (March 8, 2009) - Four Scarlet Knights placed in their respective weight brackets, highlighted by freshman Scott Winston's (Jackson, N.J.) third place performance at 157 pounds, in the final day of the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Championships Sunday at the Palestra in Philadelphia. Rutgers finished just behind Harvard (48.5) in ninth with a final team score of 47.5 in the highly-competitive 14-team tournament.

Winston and heavyweight D.J. Russo (Netcong, N.J.), who finished in fourth place in his weight class, earned automatic bids to the NCAA Championships, which will take place March 19-21 in St. Louis, Mo. Senior Matt Pletcher (Eastampton, N.J.) placed fourth at 165 pounds and freshman Trevor Melde (Hewitt, N.J.) placed fifth at 141 pounds. Pletcher and Melde now await possible at-large bids to Nationals, which will be announced later this week. It marks the second-straight year, under the direction of second-year head coach Scott Goodale, Rutgers will send multiple competitors to Nationals.

In a matchup of two of the best wrestlers in the nation in the 157 pound weight class, Winston, ranked 12th nationally, dropped a 4-2 decision to Harvard's J.P. O'Connor, ranked fourth nationally, in the semifinal round. Winston, the fourth seed, rebounded with 10-5 victory over Bucknell's Scott Sechler in the consolation bracket and pinned Penn's Matt Dragon, the third seed and 17th ranked wrestler nationally, in 2:26 to place third in the weight class and earn the bid to nationals in his first season of collegiate action.

Russo, the sophomore heavyweight and eighth seed in the bracket, earned three wins in the consolation bracket Sunday to advance to the bracket's final bout. He suffered a hard-fought, 8-6 loss to Chris Burchler of East Stroudsburg to finish fourth in the weight class. His three victories on the day came against Quinton Pruett of American (9-1), Andrew Knapp of Harvard (8-0) and third-seeded Trey McLean of Penn (11-8). He finished the two-day tournament with a 4-2 record.

Pletcher was pinned by top-seeded and undefeated Mack Lewness of Cornell, the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the nation in the 165-pound weight class, in 2:39 in the semifinal round. Lewness went on to take the weight class title. Pletcher, however, rebounded to take fourth place. He posted a 5-2 victory over Christopher Stout of American in consolation action. In the finals of the bracket, the Scarlet Knight suffered a 7-3 loss to Mike Galante of Lehigh, the third seed in the tournament and 14th ranked wrestler nationally.

Melde, the fourth seed at 141 pounds, dropped a 4-2 decision to Harvard's Corey Jantzen, the top seed in the weight class and the fourth-ranked wrestler nationally, in the semifinal round and Army's William Simpson pinned the Scarlet Knight in 4:49 in consolation action. However, Melde rebounded with a 6-1 victory over Matt Mariacher of American to place sixth in the weight class. It was his second victory over Mariacher in the two-day tournament.

Senior 174-pounder Mike Whalen (Lake Hiawatha, N.J.), the eighth seed in the weight class, was defeated by fifth-seeded Alex Caruso of Lehigh, 4-0, in the consolation bracket, eliminating him from the tournament. He finished 2-2 in the two-day event.