Slavikouski to Use Final Year of Eligibility at Rutgers

The good news continues to trickle out of New Jersey. Last week, Scott Goodale’s team got a huge commitment from Mason Gibson - making an already imposing Class of 2024 one of the best in the country. Monday afternoon brought more positives for the Scarlet Knights, as 2024 All-American Yaraslau Slavikouski will not continue to pursue transfer opportunities. 

Earlier this month, we reported on Slavikouski putting his name into the transfer portal. Today, Rutgers posted an article on their team site stating Slavikouski would use his final year of eligibility in 2024-25 with Rutgers. 

Long regarded as one of the nation’s top heavyweights, Slavikouski finally got onto the NCAA podium for the first time, when he finished seventh in the 285 lb weight class in Kansas City. He went 22-8 during his first season with Rutgers and was fourth in the Big Ten. 

Prior to coming to Rutgers, Slavikouski attended and graduated from Harvard. At Harvard, he was an EIWA finalist in 2020 and finished in the NCAA Round of 12 in 2023. To get onto the podium, Slavikouski needed to get by the second-seeded Yonger Bastida (Iowa State) - which he did, to the tune of 6-3. 

Slavikouski’s re-commitment means Rutgers could field a lineup that features four past All-Americans (Dylan Shawver, Jackson Turley, and John Poznanski) - provided Turley returns, as well. Shawver and Slavikouski’s podium finishes led Rutgers to a 20th place finish in 2024 at NCAA’s.