Rutgers wrestling shows heart, but Michigan balance proves to be too much

PISCATAWAY - Rutgers University head wrestling coach Scott Goodale woke up Sunday morning feeling it was going to be a memorable day for his program.

"I really felt good that something special was going to happen,'' Goodale said. "I was fired up by the crowd.''

Goodale's thoughts of a massive upset over No. 3 Michigan did not happen. The Wolverines' overall balance was too much in a 24-9 win in a Big Ten Conference match at Jersey Mike's Arena before a crowd of 4,560.

But, the Scarlet Knights absolutely did not embarrass themselves. They led after hard-fought wins by redshirt freshman Dean Peterson at 125 to begin the match and sophomore Joey Olivieri at 141.

Six of the 10 bouts were decided by two points or less. Each team won three of those bouts. Rutgers had just five takedowns and not more than one in any bout. But, the takedowns by Peterson, Olivieri and Janzer were bout-winning moves.

The only bonus points in the match came as expected in the final bout at heavyweight with Michigan's two-time NCAA top five finisher and 2021 national runner-up Mason Parris pinning.

Four straight wins from 149-184, including wins in tossup bouts at 149 and 174, enabled the Wolverines (8-1, 3-1) to pull away.

"I'm not disappointed with the effort, but obviously, I'm disappointed with the outcome,'' Goodale said. "I knew there would be a lot of close matches (bouts). Maybe, they (Michigan) are just a little bit better in some spots. There's a lot of wins in that lineup. There's a lot of All-Americans in that lineup.

"The effort was there for sure. We've just got to get better, got to get better in certain spots. Where we're outmanned, we're outmanned. I felt we could win 49 (149) and 74 (174). We just didn't do it.''

Redshirt junior Billy Janzer (197), who has been battling injuries the last two seasons, broke a four-bout losing streak with a 3-2 win for the Scarlet Knights' other win.

Key bouts

After the wins by Peterson and Olivieri, it looked like Rutgers had a real chance to have a lead headed into intermission with a win at 149.

The Wolverines, who were coming off a resounding 30-8 defeat at No. 1 Penn State Friday night, had not recorded a takedown through the first three bouts. Their win at 133 by two-time NCAA qualifier Dylan Ragusin over Joe Heilmann came via an escape in the second period and a third period ride out.

However, redshirt sophomore Fidel Mayora, who wrestled his first bout of the season Friday night at Penn State, recorded a solid 7-3 win over Anthony White to swing the momentum in Michigan's direction.

Mayora was taking the place of redshirt freshman and nationally ranked Chance Larmer, who did not weigh in.

Then, at 174, redshirt Max Maylor defeated 2021 NCAA 174-pound eighth-place finisher Jackson Turley 5-4 on the riding time point. Maylor accumulated his riding time edge when he rode Turley for 1:40 in the second period.

"I thought we could win those bouts,'' Goodale said. "If you want to pick off the No. 3 team in the country, you have to win those bouts.''

Maylor's win pretty much put the match away for Michigan.

Rutgers a wrestler or two away from beating national powers

The Scarlet Knights clearly have the makings of a solid dual-meet team. They are really good from 125-141 with Peterson, Heilmann and Olivieri. They have other more than capable wrestlers in the lineup.

But, to beat the best teams in the Big Ten, you have to be solid at every weight.

Rutgers is currently 0-4 at 157, 165 and heavyweight in Big Ten matches, although the heavyweight has come without starter Boone McDermott, currently sidelined with a knee injury.

The Scarlet Knights are also 1-3 at 149, 184 and 197 in conference matches.

"You have to be perfect to beat a team like that,'' Goodale said. "There's a lot of little things that go on during the course of a match, like riding somebody really, really hard and getting out right away. ''

Peterson and Olivieri impress

Both Peterson and Olivieri have shown they can wrestle with almost anybody in the Big Ten.

Both are 4-0 in Big Ten bouts and both were solid on Sunday.

Peterson, wrestling Jack Medley, who last week defeated Wisconsin's two-time All-American Eric Barnett, recorded a 3-1 win on a takedown with 12.9 seconds remaining. It was his second win of the season over Medley. He also defeated him in the Midlands Championships on Dec. 30

"Dean was solid (Sunday),'' Goodale said. "I love what he's doing. Medley has been on a tear.''

Olivieri, who had his redshirt pulled for the second straight season when the Big Ten schedule began, defeated nationally-ranked Cole Mattin 3-1 on a second period takedown.

"Joey wrestles hard. He's good in all three positions (on his feet, top and bottom),'' Goodale said. "We certainly feel good about where are at 141.''

Olivieri has taken the place of Sammy Alvarez, who left the program on Jan. 11 and has since transferred to Oklahoma State.

Janzer shows signs of getting untracked

Janzer, a two-time NCAA qualifier, has shown in his last two bouts he is beginning to turn the corner.

He wrestled well against Michigan State's four-time NCAA qualifier Cameron Caffey Friday night in a 3-1 defeat in sudden victory.

Sunday, he defeated Brendin Yatooma on a second period takedown.

"He's had to knock off a lot of rust,'' Goodale said. "He hadn't wrestled in a long-time (before the start of this season). He had back surgery. Then, he didn't wrestle all summer and didn't get back to us until September. I see it starting to come. The more he practices, the better he's getting. I think Billy can make a run. He's starting to feel more confident. He's in phenomenal shape.

Up next

Rutgers will host Northwestern (3-2, 2-2) Jan. 29 at 4 p.m. at Jersey Mike's Arena.

Michigan will host Ohio State (9-1, 3-0) on Jan. 27.

More:Rutgers wrestling edges Michigan State for badly needed win

MICHIGAN 24, RUTGERS 9

125: Dean Peterson (R) d. Jack Medley 3-1.

133: Dylan Ragusin (M) d. Joe Heilmann 2-0.

141: Joey Olivieri (R) d. Cole Mattin 3-1

149: Fidel Mayora (M) d. Anthony White 7-3.

157: Will Lewan (M) d. Andrew Clark 3-1.

165: Cameron Amine (M) d. Connor O'Neill 10-4

174: Max Maylor (M) d. Jackson Turley 5-4.

184: Matt Finesilver (M) d. Brian Soldano 7-2.

197: Billy Janzer (R) d. Brendin Yatooma 3-2.

HWT: Mason Parris (M) p. John O'Donnell 2:44.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Rutgers wrestling: Scarlet Knights defeated by powerful Michigan