rom: “Anthony Hernandez” <ahernandez@scarletknights.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2014 4:28:58 PM
Subject: Scarlet Knights Set For “Grapple at the Garden”
RUTGERS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Anthony Hernandez (office: 732-445-8119; e-mail: ahernandez@scarletknights.com)
Scarlet Knights Set For “Grapple at the Garden”
Competition begins versus Army at 10 a.m. Sunday
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Dec. 18, 2014) – The No. 23 Rutgers wrestling team will compete at the Third Annual “Grapple at the Garden” this Sunday, Dec. 21 at Madison Square Garden. RU (7-0, 0-0 Big Ten) has participated in the event every year since its inception in 2012.
Fans can watch the action live with a FloWrestling subscription. Live results will also be available online via Track Wrestling.
MATCH NOTES | WEBSITE | 2014 STATISTICS | ROSTER | FACT BOOK
Army Black Knights (1-1, 1-0 EIWA) – Sunday, Dec. 21, 10 a.m.
Live stream: FloWrestling (Subscription Required)
Live updates: Track Wrestling | Twitter – @RUWrestling
Davidson Wildcats (3-5, 0-0 SoCon) – Sunday, Dec. 21, Noon
Live stream: FloWrestling (Subscription Required)
Live updates: Track Wrestling | Twitter – @RUWrestling
RU enters the weekend ranked No. 23 in the NWCA/USA Today Division I Team Coaches Poll.
Along with the coaches poll, Rutgers is also ranked in the Intermat and WIN Magazine dual rankings. Intermat placed RU in the No. 24 spot, while WIN tabbed the Scarlet Knights No. 20 in the nation.
The Scarlet Knights look to sweep the Grapple for the first time in 2014 after going 1-1 in each of the last two seasons.
Five Scarlet Knights were ranked this week by Intermat, The Open Mat or WIN Magazine: No. 11/7/11 141-pounder Anthony Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J.), No. 8/10/10 157-pounder Anthony Perrotti (Roseland, N.J.), No. 9/NR/12 285-pounder Billy Smith (Wantage, N.J.), No. 19/14/NR 174-pounder Phil Bakuckas (Hammonton, N.J.) and No. NR/NR/18 149-pounder Ken Theobold (Toms River, N.J.).
| Rutgers Projected Starters | ||||
| Wt. | Name | Yr. | Hometown | 2014-15 Overall (Dual Record) |
| 125 | Sean McCabe | R-So. | Ronkonkoma, N.Y. | 8-3 (4-1) |
| -OR- | Josh Patrick | R-Fr. | Rector, Pa. | 13-5 (2-1) |
| 133 | Scott DelVecchio | So. | South Plainfield, N.J. | 10-3 (3-1) |
| 141 | Anthony Ashnault | R-Fr. | South Plainfield, N.J. | 11-2 (7-0) |
| -OR- | Jalen Ramos | R-So. | Bayville, N.J. | 4-5 (1-1) |
| 149 | Ken Theobold | Jr. | Toms River, N.J. | 11-3 (5-1) |
| 157 | Anthony Perrotti | R-Jr. | Roseland, N.J. | 11-2 (6-1) |
| -OR- | Dylan Painton | R-Fr. | South Plainfield, N.J. | 8-5 (0-0) |
| 165 | Ethan Orr | R-Jr. | Branchville, N.J. | 7-4 (2-2) |
| -OR- | Nicholas Gravina | R-Fr. | Allendale, N.J. | 3-0 (3-0) |
| 174 | Phil Bakuckas | R-So. | Hammonton, N.J. | 14-2 (7-0) |
| 184 | Anthony Pafumi | R-So. | Westfield, N.J. | 7-5 (2-3) |
| -OR- | Hayden Hrymack | Jr. | Point Pleasant, N.J. | 9-3 (3-1) |
| 197 | Ralph Normandia | Fr. | Somerset, N.J. | 7-2 (3-1) |
| 285 | Billy Smith | R-Jr. | Wantage, N.J. | 3-0 (3-0) |
| -OR- | Wesley Bernard | Fr. | Indianapolis, Ind. | 6-8 (1-3) |
| Army Projected Starters | ||||
| Wt. | Name | Yr. | Hometown | 2014-15 Overall Record (Dual Record |
| 125 | Sean Badua | Fr. | Manassas, Va. | 5-8 (1-1) |
| 133 | Christian Doyle | So. | McKinney, Texas | 4-8 (0-2) |
| 141 | Logan Everett | So. | Tioga, Pa. | 11-7 (1-1) |
| 149 | Andrew Mendel | Fr. | Mason, Ohio | 10-4 (2-0) |
| 157 | Russell Parsons | So. | Clinton, N.J. | 12-4 (1-1) |
| 165 | Chandler Smith | Sr. | Kansas City, Mo. | 14-2 (2-0) |
| 174 | Brian Harvey | Jr. | New Palestine, Ind. | 8-5 (1-1) |
| 184 | Austin Wilding | Jr. | Pittsburgh, Pa. | 10-5 (1-1) |
| 197 | Stephen Snyder | Sr. | Woodbine, Md. | 5-8 (1-1) |
| 285 | Mason Kumashiro | So. | Seal Beach, Calif. | 2-7 (0-1) |
Scouting Army
- Army enters the competition with a 1-1 dual record on the year, most recently topping Franklin & Marshall, 36-6, on Nov. 16. Russell Parsons is the lone Black Knight currently ranked. He is No. 20/13/15 according to Intermat/The Open Mat/WIN Magazine.
Rutgers Rematch
- Redshirt sophomore Phil Bakuckas will seek revenge this year against Brian Harvey, who defeated the Hammonton, N.J., native, 5-4, last year at the Cliff Keen Invitational.
Series vs. Army
- The Black Knights lead the Scarlet Knights, 28-14-1, in the all-time series between the two former EIWA rivals. Rutgers, however, has won the last five dual meetings dating back to the 2009 season, including a 26-15 win on Nov. 24, 2012 in the most recent matchup.
| Davidson Projected Starters | ||||
| Wt. | Name | Yr. | Hometown | 2014-15 Overall Record (Dual Record |
| 125 | Forfeit | |||
| 133 | Anthony Elias | Sr. | Pittsburgh, Pa. | 2-2 (2-2) |
| -OR- | Dustin Runzo | Fr. | Virginia Beach, Va. | 3-1 (3-1) |
| 141 | James McCord | So. | Olney, Md. | 4-5 (3-3) |
| 149 | Kevin Birmingham | Sr. | Sicklerville, N.J. | 9-3 (5-2) |
| -OR- | Mick Shanahan | Fr. | Chicago, Ill. | 0-3 (0-1) |
| 157 | Alex Palinski | So. | Cary, N.C. | 2-6 (1-4) |
| -OR- | Zach Colangelo | Fr. | Salt Lake City, Utah | 3-2 (1-0) |
| -OR- | Danny Jones | Fr. | Garden City, N.Y. | 0-2 (0-0) |
| 165 | Patrick Devlin | Jr. | Mooresville, N.C. | 2-9 (1-7) |
| 174 | Nathaniel Powers | Jr. | Mill Hall, Pa. | 5-5 (3-3) |
| -OR- | Konner Pritchard | Fr. | Virginia Beach, Va. | 1-5 (1-5) |
| 184 | Scott Patrick | Sr. | Ellicott City, Md. | 0-0 (0-0) |
| -OR- | Michael Moore | So. | Ringgold, Ga. | 0-3 (0-1) |
| 197 | Ian Solcz | Sr. | Pittsford, N.Y. | 8-5 (4-4) |
| -OR- | Brian Capps | Fr. | Wilmington, N.C. | 1-2 (0-0) |
| 285 | Ed Isola | Sr. | Maitland, Fla. | 2-7 (2-5) |
| -OR- | Wil Cooley | Fr. | Branchburg, N.J. | 1-2 (1-0) |
Scouting Davidson
- Davidson is 3-5 in dual competition this season. In their last match on Dec. 6, the Wildcats lost, 47-6, against Northwestern at the Windy City Duals. Davidson went 0-3 in the event. One Wildcat grappler is ranked by The Open Mat entering the weekend in No. 20 149-pounder Kevin Birmingham.
Series vs. Davidson
- Rutgers and Davidson will meet on the mat for the first time Sunday.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers wrestling, follow the program on Twitter (@RUWrestling) and Instagram (@RUWrestling). Fans can receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on our social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.
–RU–
Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
(Women’s Soccer, Wrestling, Women’s Rowing, Women’s Lacrosse)
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
High Point Solutions Stadium | 1 Scarlet Knight Way, Suite A, Piscataway, NJ 08854
O: (732)-445-8119 | c: (609)-709-0013 | www.ScarletKnights.com