PISCATAWAY – On Friday night, the wrestling team from Rutgers University caused concern and good in its victory over Princeton University with a score of 24-13 in front of a crowd of 3580 people at the Jersey Mike Arena.
Of concern is the outstanding 141-pound Sebastian Rivera, who was injured in the first period of the fight against Danny Coles, as he was noticeably lame when he got up from the mat.
By the end of the bout he was troubled by discomfort in his knees, and after it was over, he limped off the mat.
Rutgers coach Scott Goodell has said Rivera has injured his knee and will likely not fight on Saturday when the Scarlet Knights complete a double season against Columbia at the Jersey Mike Arena.
“He got a little better after that, so that’s a good sign,” Goodell said. “He was probably scared the most. But any time you deal with a knee, you never know. We have to look at it.”
Rivera refuses the default injury option
Goodale admitted that he asked Rivera if he wanted to get injured by default during the timeout.
“He’s a guy who, if you do that, it won’t be a good scene,” Goodell said. “It all depended on him.”
Rivera (22-0), a three-time finish in the top 6 NCAAs and a four-time NCAA All American contestant, was still able to make it through the bout. He finished the match in two matches, remaining with a technical victory of 20-3.
It was Rivera’s 21st win with bonus points. His leader in the country has 13 technical setbacks, four important decisions, two pins and two wins due to loss. He bypassed his opposition with a score of 301-54.
Goodell said he and his coaching staff are going to talk later Friday night about who will fight on 141 Saturday. He said Sammy Alvarez, who started the season at 133 and was later replaced by freshman Joey Olivier when he had weight problems, was probably not an option.
“Sammy is not around now. He has no weight,” Goodell said.
Also caring for Robert Canniard
More concern for the Scarlet Knights emerged in the final meeting when Quincy was injured at the end of the first period on Monday by 157-pound Robert Canniard after he suffered a broken nose. At the time, Monday led 6-0.
“He’s fine,” Goodell said.
The main positive moment for Scarlet Knights were the two unpredictable wrestlers who came out on the draw.
Freshman freshman Connor O’Neill won 3-2 at 174 pounds, while second-year heavyweight in a red T-shirt Boone McDermott defeated Matt Cover 6-4 in a sudden winning period № 1.
“Anytime you raise your hand, it’s important at this time of year,” said Goodell, who reflects on the postseason that begins with the Big Ten tournament on March 5-6 in Lincoln, Nebraska.
These two victories eliminated any chance of Princeton (6-5) defeating Rutgers for the second time in a row.
Rutgers (15-5) won seven of 10 fights, including four in a row in the 174 heavyweight division and three in a row from 133-149, increasing the lead in his senior series to 45-34-5 and defeating Princeton for the 24th time. the last 25 meetings date back to December 8, 1990.
O’Neill lost four straight and eight out of nine on Friday night. For McDermott it was his third win in four of the last after he lost six of seven.
O’Neill’s win tied the match 3-3 after Princeton won the throw-in match with a score of 165 to start the match. It was O’Neill’s second win of the season over Dugan.
“He (O’Neill) really, really needed it. It was huge,” Goodell said.
O’Neill broke a 1-1 draw, scoring when rolling from Dugan’s hit to the right center of the mat at 1:01 on the left.
Dugan had 14.3 seconds left to finish, but O’Neill repulsed Dugan’s attempt to score in the final seconds when Goodale first pointed at O’Neill and then clenched his fist toward fans behind Rutgers’ bench immediately after the bout.
“I have reasons to admire Connor,” Goodell said.
O’Neill (11-13) was able to defend effectively throughout the match and got out of several of Dugan’s attempts.
“Connor has worked hard in these positions this week,” Goodell said.
McDermott’s winning shot came in the bottom center of the mat 35.9 seconds before the end of the first sudden winning streak. He then leaned over the crowd as Rutgers fans roared.
“He (McDermott) is getting better. He wins close matches,” Goodyle said. “He finds out all the time. The more he fights in these matches, the better for all of us.”
John of Poznan is back on the road
Princeton closed 13-7 when Pat Glory, ranked 2nd in the country with 125th place, got Dylan Shaver’s specialty with 13-3.
Glory had two takedowns and four back points in the first period and another takedown in the third period. Shauer really had a reversal in the first period.
Joey Olivier’s 8-4 win over Nick Kayal with a score of 133 made the score 16-7 for Rutgers in three fights to the end.
In the last 26 seconds of the first period, Olivier took control of the fight and then got four back points.
John Poznansky, who finished fourth in the NCAA with 184 last year, got back on the road and put the Scarlet Knights ahead 7-3 with a major decision of 15-6 over backup Michael Squires. The regular 184-pound prince – two-time NCAA qualifier Travis Stefanick – lost weight.
It was only Poznan’s second victory in the last six matches (15-4). Both of his victories in that interval were against backups. Defeats were from ranked opponents.
Luke Stout by decision of Greg Bulsack
Scarlet Knights’ lead increased to 10-3 when four-time NCAA qualifier Greg Bulsack defeated Princeton freshman Luke Stout 9-3.
Stout is the son of Brian Stout, who was the NJSIAA champion in the 189-pound weightlifting in 1992 when he was senior in the Southern. Brian Stout was a four-time NCAA All-American from 1994-97 in Clarion, Pennsylvania.
Former head coach of Southern and Lacey NJSIAA 140 pounds 1990, who finished third, John Stout is the uncle of Luke Stout.
This was Bulsak’s first victory over a ranked opponent since January 14.
“It’s a big win for Greg,” Goodell said. “He’s in great wrestling form, which I’m happy with.”
RATGERS 24, PORT 13
165 Blaine Bergie (P) d. Andrew Clark 8-5
174 Conar O’Neill (right) Nate Dugan 3-2.
184 John of Poznan (right) md. Michael Squires 15-6
197 Greg Bulsak (right) d. Luke Stout 9-3.
HWT: Boone McDermott (right) d. Matthew Cover 6-4 (Period of Sudden Victory № 1).
125 Pat Glory (P) md. Dylan Shaver 13-3.
133 Joey Olivier (right) d. Nick Kayal 8-4
141: Sebastian Rivera (R) tf. Danny Coles 6:47 (20-3).
149 Mike VanBryl (right) d. Marshall Keller 8-7 (by driving time).
157 Quincy Monday (P) due to a default injury over Robert Canniard 2:32.
APPENDICES OF LIFE
157 Al DeSantis (right) d. Jack Lang 6-1.
