Rutgers Wrestling 2019-20 Schedule Analysis

It’s finally here!

All Rutgers Wrestling fans have been waiting for this day since Nick Suriano and Anthony Ashnault captured their National Titles in Pittsburgh back in March.

The 2019-20 schedule is here so let’s dive right in!

November 2nd (Saturday)

Quad Meet vs. Centenary, LIU Brooklyn, and Sacred Heart - Piscataway, NJ

-Here’s the standard opening quad meet for the Scarlet Knights. They swept it last season, highlighted by three Ashnault pins in his return to the mat. Expect more of the same here.

November 10th (Sunday)

Journeymen Classic - Albany, NY

-This is a day of 2-4 to four duals depending upon scheduling and how many teams attend the event. It’s a general mix of top teams from different conferences, sprinkled with mid-tier teams as well. For example, in 2018, Rutgers competed along with NC State, Lehigh, Purdue, Nebraska, Lock Haven, Virginia and Wyoming.

November 15th (Friday)

@ Fresno State - Fresno, CA

-The west coast trip (boy, did I want one of these while in college and broadcasting for WRSU. Stanford remains a dream). Rutgers took down Fresno State at the RAC last season in their return to Division 1 wrestling 30-6. They should be better and Rutgers will have to replace Ashnault’s production.

November 17th (Sunday)

Tri Meet vs. CSU Bakersfield and Cal Baptist - Bakersfield, CA

-The California stay continues with these two. Similar to the season opening quad meet, Rutgers should roll these two squads before returning home.

November 23rd (Saturday)

Navy Classic - Annapolis, MD

-An early in season tournament. It’ll be interesting to see who Scott Goodale and company send to this tournament. Redshirts, backups, and some starters. Expect a large mix.

December 7th (Saturday)

vs. Maryland - Piscataway, NJ

-The Big Ten schedule begins. If history tells us anything, Rutgers owns Maryland in this matchup. First Big Ten meet of the season? At home? Yeah, give me the Scarlet Knights.

January 1st and 2nd (Wednesday and Thursday)

Southern Scuffle - Chattanooga, TN

-Oh baby. The Southern Scuffle. There’s Midlands and there’s the Cliff Keen Vegas Tournament, but now we’re getting spicy. Penn State and Oklahoma State love this tournament. Others like Iowa State, Stanford, and Virginia Tech make their presence known at this tournament as well. Just get ready for a dogfight and a great midseason test for Rutgers’ individuals.

January 10th (Friday)

@ Ohio State - Columbus, OH

-Most of the “big boys” that Rutgers will face this season will be away from the RAC. Ohio State is always a challenge, but seeing them on their home turf will be difficult. As we get closer to the season, we’ll analyze lineups, but Ohio State always has great depth and they’ll need it to replace guys like Joey McKenna and Myles Martin.

January 12th (Sunday)

@ Michigan State - East Lansing, MI

-Michigan State is another Big Ten opponent Rutgers always fares well against. A bit closer last season, but they haven’t dropped a dual vs. the Spartans since joining the Big Ten.

January 17th (Friday)

vs. Cornell - Piscataway, NJ

-It’s the Big Red so this is going to be great, despite possibly losing some luster due to possible impending Olympic redshirts from Yianni Diakomihalis, Max Dean and Vitali Arujau. Expect a near, if not, sold out crowd.

January 19th (Sunday)

@ Penn State - University Park, PA

-The Nittany Lions are still the class of NCAA Wrestling. I don’t expect that to change this season. Rutgers will have to give Penn State their best shot on the road to take them out.

January 24th (Friday)

vs. Indiana - Piscataway, NJ

-Another winnable Big Ten dual for the Scarlet Knights and they’ll have the home crowd backing them. This starts a run of two duals in three days at the RAC, so expect some buzz.

January 26th (Sunday)

vs. Purdue - Piscataway, NJ

-See previous details vs. Indiana

February 1st (Saturday)

vs. Michigan - Madison Square Garden - New York, NY

-This is going to be fun. This is a part of a basketball and wrestling doubleheader for Rutgers and Michigan at MSG. Personally, I last saw Rutgers at MSG during the 2016 NCAA Wrestling Tournament where we first broadcasted the tournament on WRSU. You want to talk about an amazing environment to wrestle with the right acoustics? Besides the RAC, this is will be awesome.

February 7th (Friday)

vs. Illinois - Piscataway, NJ

-Illinois has always wrestled Rutgers close. This could be the best conference dual at the RAC this season.

February 9th (Sunday)

@ Rider - Lawrenceville, NJ

-Rutgers and Rider renewed their rivalry at the RAC last season and now the Scarlet Knights will travel late in the season. Expect this match-up to be nearly as consistent as Rutgers-Princeton.

February 14th (Friday)

vs. Northwestern - Piscataway, NJ

-Too bad Johnny Sebastian of Bergen Catholic won’t get another match in New Jersey. He transferred to Wisconsin after the season for his final year of eligibility. He likely would’ve taken on Joe Grello at 174. Northwestern is steadily improving and they’ll bring in Sebastian Rivera at 125, where he would likely take on redshirt freshman Nico Aguilar.

February 23rd (Sunday)

@ Princeton - Princeton, NJ

-Well, it’s not at the RAC or outdoors this season, but this is still one of the better rivalries in college wrestling. Let’s just hope Rutgers gets more of this:

Well, we all know the tournaments come in March, but we’ll wait on that. We need to savor the anticipation for wrestling season. And then savor the season itself. It’s going to be fun (Duh).

P.S.

Go buy an Ashnault shirt, they’re BAD!