PISCATAWAY, NJ – Despite 5/5 matches split into both doubles, No. 20 Rutgers (0-4) dropped to No. 15 Minnesota (4-2), 21-18, and No. 19 Purdue (2-3), 18- 15, on Sunday afternoon at RAC. The Scarlet Knights won victories over five individuals classified as No. Sebastian Rivera (141), No. 6 Sammy Alvarez (133) and Jackson Turley won both fights during the Big Ten Conference tri-meet, presented by RWJBarnabas Health
The UK tri-match against Minnesota and Purdue remains one of the most difficult double agendas in the recent memory of the program. Rutgers opened the double season against four consecutive top 20 opponents and will face two more qualified teams – No. 7 Nebraska and No. 22 Michigan State – on Saturday in Bloomington.
“Today’s format simulates Big Tens and the national tournament, where you have to recover and fight immediately,” said the head coach. Scott Goodale. “We have to get used to two consecutive opponents and two consecutive quality opponents.”
Rutgers vs. Purdue: how it happened
• After Rutgers started with a 6-0 hole, the Scarlet Knights tied the pair in consecutive Alvarez and Rivera decisions. Alvarez won a 6-0 decision over Jacob Rundell, while Rivera worked two takedowns in the first period and one in the third on the way to a 7-6 decision over No. 19 Parker Filius, an NCAA 2020 qualifier.
• The Scarlet Knights then faced individuals rated 149 and 157 pounds, but made good efforts in both fights. Michael VanBrill lost a tight 2-1 decision to No. 9 Griffin Parriott after he was called in by the third period. Robert Kanniard, fresh out of his big win last weekend at No. 11 Ohio State, took the first drop of his fight with No. 5 Kendall Coleman and added another in the second period before losing 13-8.
• Goodale chose the real freshman Andrew Clark with 165 pounds, and the NJSIAA state champion in 2020 struggled hard in the 5-0 loss to Gerrit Nijenhuis. The defeat put Rutgers back, 15-9.
• Turley started his impressive afternoon with a 6-0 decision over Emil Soehnlen, while in 12th. John Poznanski (184) went on with what may have been the most impressive win of the day. The rookie scored in all three periods against No. 11 Max Lyon, which included a beautiful reversal in the second stage, en route to a 7-4 decision on Lyon, twice NCAA qualifiers. In just four matches, Poznanski won victories over two opponents in the top 12, while taking the then n. 8 Rocky Jordan last week in Columbus.
• Poznanski’s decision gave the UK an opportunity, as they only lost 15-12 with two games to go, but Billy Janzer (197) made it a six point dual. Boone McDermott (HWT) won his first double win of his career in Division I with a 3-1 decision over Jamarcus Grant, but Purdue would come out with a double 18-15 win.
No. 19 Purdue 18, No. 20 Rutgers 15
Start of the match: 125 pounds
125: 6/6/4 Devin Schroder (PUR) falls (4:20) on NR / 22/19 Nicolas Aguilar (UK); Purdue leads, 6-0
133: 6/6/6 Sammy Alvarez (UK) 6-0 dec. about Jacob Rundell (PUR); Purdue Leads, 6-3
141: 1/4/3 Sebastian Rivera (UK) 7-6 Dec. above 20/19/20 Parker Filius (PUR); Match drawn, 6-6
149: 17/9 / NR Griffin Parriott (PUR) 2-1 Dec. on Michael VanBrill (UK); Purdue Leads, 9-6
157: 5/5/5 Kendall Coleman (PUR) 13-8 Dec. about NR / 25/28 Robert Kanniard (UK); Purdue Leads, 12-6
165: Gerrit Nijenhuis (PUR) 5-0 Dec. on Andrew Clark (UK); Purdue Leads, 15-6
174: Jackson Turley (UK) 6-2 dec. about Emil Soehnlen (PUR); Purdue Leads, 15-9
184: 12/18/14 John Poznanski (UK) 7-4 Dec. on 12/11/11 Max Lyon (PUR); Purdue’s Leads, 15-12
197: NR / 21/20 Thomas Penola (PUR) 4-0 Dec. about NR / NR / 29 Billy Janzer (UK); Purdue’s Leads, 18-12
285: Boone McDermott (UK) 3-1 Dec. about Jamarcus Grant (PUR); Purdue wins, 18-15
Rutgers vs. Purdue: how it happened
• Once again facing a difficult start with 6-0 on the team’s scoreboard, Alvarez paved the way for a 10-5 decision over No. 24 Boo Dryden, achieving his first win in the 2021 season ranking.
• Rivera followed and wasted no time with his opponent, Marcos Polanco. With 7-1 after two periods, Rivera recorded two takedowns and added points of near fall to secure his third major decision of the season with a 14-3 win.
• VanBrill won three consecutive victories for the Scarlet Knights, winning four-point strikes in the first period and catching No. 19 Michael Blockhus on the back in the 10-5 decision. The win gave RU a 10-6 advantage in four matches in the duo.
• Kanniard scored again in first place against Brayton Lee, No. 7, and maintained the 2020 NCAA qualification only for one decision. A loss of Brett Donner (165) followed and Minnesota recovered a 13-10 lead.
• With his team defeated and in need of a spark, Turley provided that and more. Turley controlled his entire game with No. 13 Jake Allar, when he opened with a six-point shot in the first period and caught Allar on the back several times in the second for his 17-2 technological crash. His bonus points gave Rutgers a 15-13 lead.
• Poznanski continued with his second game of the day against Owen Webster, in a fight that lasted until the final seconds. Tied 4-4, Webster dropped with just under 10 seconds for individual victory. Janzer added a 197-pound win with his 6-4 decision over Garrett Joles, but Big Ten and No. 1 heavyweight champion Gable Steveson was able to score a bonus against McDermott to secure the pair for the Golden Gophers .
No. 15 Minnesota 21, No. 20 Rutgers 18
Start of the match: 125 pounds
125: 12/09/8 Patrick McKee (MINN) crash (5:58) on NR / 22/19 Nicolas Aguilar (UK); Minnesota leads, 6-0
133: 6/6/6 Sammy Alvarez (UK) 10-5 Dec. on NR / 24/28 Boo Dryden (MINN); Minnesota leads, 6-3
141: 1/4/3 Sebastian Rivera (UK) 14-3 MD on Marcos Polanco (MINN); Rutgers leads, 7-6
149: Michael VanBrill (UK) 10-5 Dec. on NR / 19/19 Michael Blockhus (MINN); Rutgers leads, 10-6
157: 6/7/9 Brayton Lee (MINN) 10-7 Dec. about NR / 25/28 Robert Kanniard (UK); Rutgers leads, 10-9
165: 17/16/18 Andrew Sparks (MINN) 13-3 MD finished Brett Donner (UK); Minnesota leads, 13-10
174: Jackson Turley (UK) 17-2 TF over NR / 13/22 Jake Allar (MINN); Rutgers leads, 15-13
184: NR / 19/27 Owen Webster (MINN) 6-4 Dec. above 12/18/14 John Poznanski (UK); Minnesota leads, 16-15
197: NR / NR / 29 Billy Janzer (UK) 6-4 Dec. about Garrett Joles (MINN); Rutgers leads, 18-16
285: 1/1/1 Gable Steveson (MINN) 17-2 TF over Boone McDermott (UK); Minnesota wins, 21-18
Extra matches: remarkable results
• Freshman Dylan Shawver (125) worked a takedown in the second period against Kooper Loehr (Purdue) for his second victory in so many fights. Classmate Kyle Epperly won an exciting 3-1 decision in a sudden victory over Mitch Hutmacher (Purdue), while Shane Metzler (133), Zach Firestone (141), Jake Benner (157) and Alex Esposito (HWT) everyone added a victory.
Results of extra Rutgers match
133: Jake Gliva (MINN) 14-5 MD on Nate Cummings (PUR)
141: Brent Jones (MINN) 9-0 MD on Michael Leveille (PUR)
149: 17/9 / NR Griffin Parriott (PUR) 4-3 Dec. about Jake Bergeland (MINN)
174: Sam Skillings (MINN) injury pattern ended (2:49) Joseph Grello (UK)
157: Cael Carlson (MINN) 12-7 Dec. on Cooper Noehre (PUR)
165: Baylor Fernandes (MINN) crash (0:49) on Connor O’Neill (UK)
165: Bailey O’Reilly (MINN) Dec 11-10. about Hayden Lohrey (PUR)
184: Isaiah Salazar (MINN) 6-2 Dec. about Macartney Parkinson (PUR)
HWT: Keaton Kluever (MINN) crash (1:45) against Dorian Keys (PUR)
125: Dylan Shawver (UK) fall (4:30) on Kooper Loehr (PUR)
133: Shane Metzler (UK) Dec 11-4. about Nathan Cummings (PUR)
141: Zach Firestone (UK) 8-1 dec. about Michael Leveille (PUR)
157: Jake Benner (UK) 8-6 Dec. on Cooper Noehre (PUR)
165: Hayden Lohrey (PUR) 14-6 MD over Connor O’Neill (UK)
197: Kyle Epperly (UK) 3-1 SV1 over Mitch Hutmacher (PUR)
HWT: Alex Esposito (UK) 6-0 dec. about Dorian Keys (PUR)
133: Jacob Rundell (PUR) 9-1 MD over Devon Britton (UK)
133: Jake Gliva (MINN) 12-3 MD over Malcolm Robinson (UK)
141: Brent Jones (MINN) defaults for injury (4:28) above Zach Firestone (UK)
149: Jake Bergeland (MINN) 5-1 Dec on Gerard Angelo (UK)
157: Cael Carlson (MINN) 13-0 MD over Cody Harrison (UK)
165: Bailee O’Reilly (MINN) 19-3 TF over Connor O’Neill (UK)
197: Rowan Morgan (MINN) 7-3 Dec. on Kyle Epperly (UK)
HWT: Keaton Kluever (MINN) 9-6 Dec on Alex Esposito (UK)
Ratings: Intermat / FloWrestling / TheOpenMat
Next
Rutgers travels to Bloomington to face Indiana, No. 7 Nebraska and No. 22 Michigan State on Saturday, February 6. The quad will have transmission via BTN Plus.
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