The Scarlet Knights (15-4-1) claimed seven wins against the Cavaliers (13-5). The victory improves RU’s all-time record over VU to a 3-2 advantage.
The 11-match unbeaten streak is the longest for RU since it went the same distance in the 1992-93 season from late November to late January.
“Great win for this school and our program,” said Rutgers head coach Scott Goodale. “Wins like this, and this environment is what I envisioned when I came here. It was exciting. The fans were great and the atmosphere is what college wrestling is all about.”
26th-ranked Joseph Langel (Howell, N.J.) opened Friday’s contest by pushing his winning to 13 by claiming an 8-4 decision over 22nd-ranked Ross Gitomer. The redshirt freshman owns a 22-5 record, including a 10-2 mark in dual action.
No. 16 Billy Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J.) extended Rutgers lead to 6-0 by defeating Matt Snyder by a 6-4 decision. The RU newcomer now owns a 20-8 record, including a 14-4 record in dual competition.
The Cavaliers got on the scoreboard at 141 when 27th-ranked Derek Valenti picked up a 6:39 pin fall over 22nd-ranked Trevor Melde (Hewitt, N.J.) to knot the score at 6-6. Melde was leading 6-4 before the pin. The loss snapped an eight match winning streak for the RU sophomore.
At 149, redshirt junior David Greenwald (Union, N.J.) regained the lead for the Scarlet Knights by earning a 10-1 major decision over David Ebbott. The major decision is only the second of the season for Greenwald.
157-pounder Daryl Cocozzo (Malvern, Pa.) continues to dominate in dual action, as he put the crowd on their feet heading into intermission by dropping Dan Gonsor with a 4:39 pin fall to give RU a 16-6 advantage at the midway point.
Following the intermission, sophomore Gregory Zannetti (Edison, N.J.) continued the RU momentum by claiming a 2-0 victory over Pat Riley to balloon the squad’s lead to 19-6.
No. 28 Daniel Rinaldi (Lodi, N.J.) held his own against fourth-ranked Chris Henrich in the 174 match, but Henrich won by a 7-1 decision to trim RU’s lead to 19-12.
The biggest match of the night came at 197 when 18th-ranked redshirt senior Lamar Brown (Red Bank, N.J.) went up against 17th-ranked redshirt senior Brent Jones. The two fifth-year warriors battled back and forth and the match went to four overtimes before Brown captured the 14-8 record to seal the victory for RU.
Redshirt junior and 10th-ranked Dominick Russo (Netcong, N.J.) capped off the exciting victory with a 7-3 decision over Jack Danilkkowicz to give Rutgers the 25-12 victory.Russo leads Rutgers with 24 wins.
Rutgers will have little time to celebrate as the team is back on the mat Saturday night when it returns to College Ave Gym to host Navy for a 6 p.m. match.
Results:
125 #26 Joseph Langel (RU) dec. #22 Ross Gitomer (VU), 8-4 3-0
133 #16 Billy Ashnault (RU) dec. Matt Snyder (VU) 6-4 6-0
141 #27 Derek Valenti (VU) pins #22 Trevor Melde (RU) 6:39 6-6
149 David Greenwald (RU) major. dec. David Ebbott (VU) 10-1 10-6
157 Daryl Cocozzo (RU) pins Dan Gonsor (VU) 4:39 16-6
165 Gregory Zannetti (RU) dec. Pat Riley (VU) 2-0 19-6
174 #4 Chris Henrich (VU) dec. #28 Daniel Rinaldi (RU) 7-1 19-9
184 #20 Mike Salopek (VU) dec. Daniel Seidenberg (RU) 6-3 19-12
197 #18 Lamar Brown (RU) dec. #17 Brent Jones (VU)14-8 (4ot) 22-12
285 #10 Dominick Russo (RU) dec. Jack Danilkowicz (VU) 7-3 25-12
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