Rutgers Wrestling’s Sammy Alvarez & Nicolas Aguilar earn All-American honors

Rutgers had a pair of wrestlers named All-Americans by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) on Friday. True freshman Sammy Alvarez earned Second Team honors and redshirt freshman Nicolas Aguilar earned an Honorable Mention selection.

Alvarez wrestled at 133 pounds in his first collegiate campaign, producing a 26-10 record that included wins over eight ranked opponents. He finished in sixth place at the Big Ten Championships and qualified for the NCAA Championships by earning the no. 10 seed in his weight class. Unfortunately, nationals were cancelled due to the global pandemic COVID-19. Alvarez also won an individual title at the prestigious Southern Scuffle in early January. It was a good first season Alvarez, who has tremendous potential, after coming to Rutgers with a New Jersey state title he won as a senior for St. Joseph’s Regional and ranked the 34th best overall prospect nationally in the 2019 class.

Aguilar completed his first full collegiate season at 125 pounds with a 24-11 record that included wins over two ranked opponents. He also qualified for the NCAA Championships, earning the no. 17 seed in his weight class. After an early loss in the Big Ten Championships, Aguilar battled his way to a ninth place finish with three consecutive victories. The 2018 California state champion at 120 pounds and no. 4 prospect nationally at that weight in the 2018 class will look to continue making progress next season after improving significantly off of a 7-7 redshirt season a year ago.

Both wrestlers were so important for the program in their respective weight classes, helping Rutgers produce its 14th straight season with a winning dual record. Head Coach Scott Goodale has achieved this accomplishment all 13 years in change of the program and RU finished the season ranked in the NWCA Coaches Poll for the ninth time in his tenure.

For a complete list of wrestlers named All-Americans by the NWCA, click here.