Rutgers edges Princeton on criteria in Garden State

PRINCETON >> It terms of the big overall picture, there are a couple of ways to look at the Rutgers wrestling team’s 17-16 victory by criteria over Princeton at Jadwin Gym Sunday afternoon.

Coupled with Princeton’s win over the Scarlet Knights three seasons ago, the annual match to determine New Jersey collegiate wrestling supremacy has suddenly become highly competitive.

On the other hand, this series is also completely one sided as Rutgers has now beaten Princeton 22 out of the last 23 times they have wrestled dating back to 1991.

“There’s a lot to this rivalry and there’s a lot of hype with this match,” said Rutgers coach Scott Goodale in reference to the way Princeton makes a huge deal out of it every season by promoting it as much as it can.

“There’s a lot said during the summer; there’s a lot said during recruiting. The thing is, though, we are in big matches all the time. Every match (in the Big Ten) we have to be at our best.”

Rutgers was clearly not at its best in the 141-pound bout when Princeton’s Danny Coles upset Sammy Alvarez, 4-3, by fighting off a takedown in the final seconds.

This gave Princeton a surprise early 6-3 lead after Patrick Glory returned to the lineup from an injury and opened the match with a 4-1 decision over Rutgers’ Dean Peterson at 125 pounds.

One of two returning national runner-ups in the Princeton lineup along with Glory, Quincy Munday soon followed with a 13-3 major at 157 pounds to give the Tigers a 10-6 lead at the break.

When Princeton’s Blaine Bergey then increased the lead to 13-6 with a decision at 165 pounds, it looked like Rutgers might really be in trouble.

Instead, it responded in clutch with three wins in the last four weights to lift its record to 6-1. Princeton, meanwhile, dropped to 0-4, although it should be pointed out this was the first time all year in which it was at full strength.

The Rutgers’ comeback started with Jackson Turley posting an 8-5 decision at 174. Scarlet Knight freshman Brian Soldano, a three-time state champion at High Point, then delivered the crucial bonus point with a 10-1 win over Nate Dugan at 184 to tie the match at 13-all.

Watching Soldano in action is fun as he often seems to score his most points by flipping his opponent when he seemingly is in a bad position from the neutral position.

“He’s great with that,” agreed Goodale. “I’ve seen him take down world class athletes with that.”

Princeton was favored at 197 with Luke Stout against Billy Janzer, but Rutgers played this bout smart. Knowing it was favored at heavyweight and ahead on the criteria of match points, Rutgers had Janzer take neutral to start the third period when he was trailing, 1-0.

Janzer could have tied the match with an escape, but by Rutgers choosing the safe route as Stout was never in a position to attempt to turn Janzer for backpoints.

Rutgers heavyweight Boone

McDermott then delivered the winning goods with a 5-3 victory in which he was in control throughout.

This set off a celebration by the Rutgers wrestlers, although many in the crowd were confused because nowhere in the entire gym was the actually team score posted for the fans to see.

Whatever, Rutgers had beaten Princeton again, albeit by the barest of margins.

“A lot of guys came up big for us at the end,” said Goodale. “It was one of those matches where ever point mattered.

And as nearly always the case, Rutgers ended up with more points than Princeton.