From: “Anthony Hernandez” <ahernandez@scarletknights.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2014 4:33:09 PM
Subject: B1G Era Begins Friday vs. No. 1 Iowa
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)
B1G Era Begins Friday vs. No. 1 Iowa
RAC match to be broadcast live on BTN
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Dec. 31, 2014) – The No. 23 Rutgers wrestling team will make its much anticipated Big Ten debut Friday night at the RAC, where the Scarlet Knights will play host to the No. 1 Iowa Hawkeyes in a nationally televised match on BTN. Wrestling will begin at 8 p.m.
BTN2GO | MATCH NOTES | WEBSITE | 2014 STATISTICS | ROSTER | FACT BOOK
No. 1 Iowa Hawkeyes (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) – Friday, Jan. 2, 8 p.m.
TV: BTN
Live updates: Twitter – @RUWrestling
Doors to the match will open at 7 p.m., with the Rutgers Ticket Office opening at 6 p.m. The first 500 fans to arrive will receive a limited-edition inaugural Big Ten match t-shirt. Parking in the yellow lot will be $10 per car. Fans will not be able to park in the green lot without a preordered pass.
At 9-0, RU is off to its best dual start in the program’s 82-year history. Along with the No. 23 coaches poll ranking, Rutgers is also ranked in the Intermat dual rankings at the No. 24 spot.
The Scarlet Knights swept the competition last time out at the Third Annual “Grapple at the Garden.” The Scarlet Knights got things started with a 24-13 win over Army before dominating Davidson, 46-3.
Redshirt junior heavyweight Billy Smith (Wantage, N.J.) won the 82nd Annual Wilkes Open on Dec. 28. He is now 61-19 for his career, good for a tie for 43rd on the all-time RU wins list.
Entering the dual ranked by Intermat, The Open Mat or WIN Magazine are No. 11/7/11 141-pounder Anthony Ashnault (South Plainfield, N.J.), No. 13/13/12 157-pounder Anthony Perrotti (Roseland, N.J.), No. 9/NR/11 Smith, No. NR/16/20 174-pounder Phil Bakuckas (Hammonton, N.J.) and No. NR/NR/17 149-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. | 10-3 (6-1) |
| -OR- | Josh Patrick | R-Fr. | Rector, Pa. | 13-5 (2-1) |
| 133 | Scott DelVecchio | So. | South Plainfield, N.J. | 11-3 (5-1) |
| 141 | No. 11/7/11 Anthony Ashnault | R-Fr. | South Plainfield, N.J. | 13-2 (9-0) |
| 149 | No. NR/NR/17 Ken Theobold | So. | Toms River, N.J. | 13-3 (7-1) |
| 157 | No. 13/13/12 Anthony Perrotti | R-Jr. | Roseland, N.J. | 12-3 (7-2) |
| 165 | Nicholas Gravina | R-Fr. | Allendale, N.J. | 7-1 (4-0) |
| 174 | No. NR/16/20 Phil Bakuckas | R-So. | Hammonton, N.J. | 15-3 (8-1) |
| 184 | Anthony Pafumi | R-So. | Westfield, N.J. | 11-6 (3-3) |
| -OR- | Hayden Hrymack | Jr. | Point Pleasant, N.J. | 9-4 (3-2) |
| 197 | Andrew Campolattano | R-Jr. | Bound Brook, N.J. | 0-0 (0-0) |
| 285 | No. 9/NR/11 Billy Smith | R-Jr. | Wantage, N.J. | 8-0 (5-0) |
| Iowa Projected Starters | ||||
| Wt. | Name | Yr. | Hometown | 2014-15 Overall (Dual Record |
| 125 | No. 4/3/4 Thomas Gilman | So. | Council Bluffs, Iowa | 14-1 (5-0) |
| 133 | No. 4/4/4 Cory Clark | So. | Pleasant Hill, Iowa | 14-0 (5-0) |
| 141 | No. 6/5/8 Josh Dziewa | Sr. | Yardly, Pa. | 15-2 (4-0) |
| 149 | No. NR/10/NR Brody Grothus | Jr. | Davenport, Iowa | 14-2 (1-0) |
| -OR- | No. 10/NR/16 Brandon Sorensen | Fr. | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 19-2 (0-0) |
| 157 | Edwin Cooper, Jr. | Jr. | Joliet, Ill. | 8-5 (1-0) |
| -OR- | Michael Kelley | Sr. | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 14-1 (4-0) |
| 165 | No. 7/6/7 Nick Moore | Sr. | Iowa City, Iowa | 12-3 (4-1) |
| 174 | No. 2/2/2 Mike Evans | Sr. | Enola, Pa. | 14-0 (5-0) |
| 184 | No. 8/9/7 Sammy Brooks | So. | Oak Park, Ill. | 14-1 (5-0) |
| 197 | No. 6/6/7 Nathan Burak | Jr. | Colorado Springs, Colo. | 9-0 (0-0) |
| -OR- | Kris Klapprodt | Jr | Rapid City, S.D. | 10-5 (2-2) |
| 285 | No. 3/3/3 Bobby Telford | Sr. | Hockessin, Del. | 14-0 (5-0) |
Scouting Iowa
• Iowa captured four individual titles and scored a tournament-record 189.0 points on its way to the 52nd Annual Midlands Championships title on Dec. 30.
The Hawkeyes’ 189 team points broke their previous record of 187.5, set in 2013. Iowa has won a record 24 Midlands team titles and crowned four champions – Cory Clark, Mike Evans, Nathan Burak, Bobby Telford – for the first time since 2007.
The following 10 Hawkeyes enter the dual ranked by Intermat/The Open Mat/WIN Magazine: No. 4/3/4 125-pounder Thomas Gilman, No. 4/4/4 133-pounder Cory Clark, No. 6/5/8 141-pounder Josh Dziewa, No. NR/10/NR 149-pounder Brody Grothus, No. 10/NR/16 149-pounder Brandon Sorensen, No. 7/6/7 165-pounder Nick Moore, No. 2/2/2 174-pounder Mike Evans, No. 8/9/7 184-pounder Sammy Brooks, No. 6/6/7 197-pounder Nathan Burak and No. 3/3/3 285-pounder Bobby Telford.
Series vs. Iowa
• The Hawkeyes lead the all-time series vs. the Scarlet Knights, 1-0, after defeating Rutgers, 33-9, on Nov. 27, 2009.
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