“Midlands Showdown: No. 16 Wrestling Claims Runner-Up Spot as Peterson Shines with Individual Victory”

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – Fueled by an individual championship from No. 18 Dean Peterson (125) and a program-record nine placers, No. 16 Rutgers wrestling secured second place at the 2024 Ken Kraft Midlands Championships on Monday in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
 
Peterson was among four individual finalists at the Midlands, alongside No. 16 Dylan Shawver (133), No. 20 Joseph Olivieri (141), and No. 29 Shane Cartagena-Walsh (184). No. 5 Yaraslau Slavikouski (HWT) battled back to claim a bronze medal, while No. 33 Andrew Clark (149) and Brian Soldano (184) both secured fourth place. No. 22 Jackson Turley (174) finished fifth, and No. 14 John Poznanski (197) landed in sixth.
 
With nine placers and 147 team points, the Scarlet Knights finished just behind Stanford, who took the team trophy with 157 points. Penn rounded out the top three with 131 points. This represented the highest number of team points scored at the championships in school history and equaled their best team result from 2017.
 
2024 Midlands Championships Placewinners
1st: No. 18 Dean Peterson (125)
2nd: No. 16 Dylan Shawver (133)
2nd: No. 20 Joseph Olivieri (141)
2nd: No. 29 Shane Cartagena-Walsh (184)
4th: No. 33 Andrew Clark (149)
4th: Brian Soldano (184)
3rd: No. 5 Yaraslau Slavikouski (HWT)
5th: No. 22 Jackson Turley (174)
6th: No. 14 John Poznanski (197)
Intermat Rankings
 
Peterson triumphed over No. 26 Blake West (Northern Illinois) in his championship match, executing two takedowns and a reversal for an 8-7 decision. Peterson concluded with a team-high six victories throughout the two-day competition, featuring three tech falls and two decisions against ranked opponents.
 
Shawver competed in his second consecutive Midlands title match after falling to Dylan Ragusin in the finals the previous year. This time, Shawver faced No. 10 Tyler Knox (Stanford), staying tied with Knox well into the third period before Knox scored a takedown and back points for a 10-3 final score.
 
Cartagena-Walsh and Olivieri both suffered narrow defeats against ranked adversaries. Olivieri took No. 11 CJ Composto (Penn) to sudden victory before the Quaker secured a takedown for a 4-1 final score. Meanwhile, Cartagena-Walsh was tied with No. 19 Reece Heller (Pittsburgh) 5-5 in the third period before Heller executed a last-second takedown for an 8-5 final score.
 
After losing his semifinal match earlier in the morning session, Slavikouski wrestled back for a third-place match against Logan Shephard (Bucknell), dominating with a 10-2 major decision to claim a bronze medal.
 
Rutgers went a perfect 3-for-3 in its initial semifinal matches of the morning. Peterson utilized a first-period takedown en route to a 4-0 decision against No. 25 Jacob Moran. Shawver continued with a gritty 3-2 decision in the first tiebreaker against Ben Davino (Ohio State), while Olivieri extended his winning run with a pin in the third period against No. 18 Dylan Chappell (Bucknell).
 
Cartagena-Walsh was the fourth to achieve victory in his semifinal match. Competing against No. 33 Nathan Haas (Cal Baptist), Cartagena-Walsh brought his opponent to sudden victory, being tied 1-1 before executing a takedown in overtime for a 4-1 final score.
 
Clark, Poznanski, Slavikouski, and Soldano all lost close decisions in their respective semifinal matches against ranked contenders. Clark and Soldano ended their championships with fourth-place finishes, Turley rallied back to take fifth, while Poznanski concluded his weekend with a sixth-place standing.
 
Day 1 Results
Dean Peterson (125)
Champ. Round 1 – Dean Peterson (Rutgers) won by tech fall over Anthony Ruzic (Illinois) (TF 18-1)
Champ. Round 2 – Dean Peterson (Rutgers) won by tech fall over Luqman Masud (Missouri) (TF 17-2)
Champ. Round 3 – Dean Peterson (Rutgers) won by decision over Marc-Anthony McGowan (Princeton) (Dec 7-1)
Quarterfinal – Dean Peterson (Rutgers) won by tech fall over Dedrick Navarro (Northwestern) (TF 19-4)
Semifinal – Dean Peterson (Rutgers) won by decision over Jacob Moran (Indiana) (Dec 4-0)
1st Place Match – Dean Peterson (Rutgers) won by decision over Blake West (Northern Illinois) (Dec 8-7)
 
Ayden Smith (125)
Champ. Round 1 – Ayden Smith (Rutgers) received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Ayden Smith (Rutgers) won by decision over Colyn Limbert (Pittsburgh) (Dec 4-2)
Champ. Round 3 – Ethan Rivera (Princeton) won by decision over Ayden Smith (Rutgers) (Dec 9-2)
Cons. Round 4 – Ayden Smith (Rutgers) won by decision over Jack Parker (Franklin & Marshall) (Dec 7-4)
Cons. Round 5 – Christopher Vargo (Edinboro) won by decision over Ayden Smith (Rutgers) (Dec 8-3)
 
Dylan Shawver (133)
Champ. Round 1 – Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) won by major decision over Andrew Hampton (Michigan State) (Maj 15-4)
Champ. Round 2 – Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) won by decision over Vince Perez (Central Michigan) (Dec 4-3)
Quarterfinal – Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) won by decision over Kurt Phipps (Bucknell) (Dec 3-2)
Semifinal – Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) won in tiebreaker – 1 over Ben Davino (Ohio State) (TB-1 3-2)
1st Place Match – Tyler Knox (Stanford) won by decision over Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) (Dec 10-3)
 
Max Hermes (141)
Champ. Round 1 – Danny Martinez (SIU Edwardsville) won by major decision over Max Hermes (Rutgers) (Maj 9-0)
Cons. Round 1 – Max Hermes (Rutgers) won by medical forfeit over Evan Herriman (Michigan State) (MFF)
Cons. Round 2 – Nathan Jerore (Michigan) won by decision over Max Hermes (Rutgers) (Dec 4-2)
 
Joseph Olivieri (141)
Champ. Round 1 – Joseph Olivieri (Rutgers) won by tech fall over Jaden Crumpler (Michigan State) (TF 21-4)
Champ. Round 2 – Joseph Olivieri (Rutgers) won by tech fall over Jameson Garcia (Harvard) (TF 20-4)
Quarterfinal – Joseph Olivieri (Rutgers) won by fall over Evan Mougalian (Penn) (Fall 0:41)
Semifinal – Joseph Olivieri (Rutgers) won by fall over Dylan Chappell (Bucknell) (Fall 6:00)
1st Place Match – CJ Composto (Penn) won in sudden victory – 1 over Joseph Olivieri (Rutgers) (SV-1 4-1)
 
Joe Fongaro (149)
Champ. Round 1 – Briar Priest (Pittsburgh) won by major decision over Joe Fongaro (Rutgers) (Maj 8-0)

Cons. Round 1 – Bryce Kresho (Franklin & Marshall) won by decisionover Joe Fongaro (Rutgers) (Dec 9-5)
 
Andrew Clark (149)
Champ. Round 1 – Andrew Clark (Rutgers) was awarded a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Andrew Clark (Rutgers) triumphed by decision over Matt Hart (Indiana) (Dec 12-5)
Champ. Round 3 – Andrew Clark (Rutgers) achieved victory by decision against Hayden Whidden (SIU Edwardsville) (Dec 8-3)
Quarterfinal – Andrew Clark (Rutgers) secured a win by decision over Finn Solomon (Pittsburgh) (Dec 5-3)
Semifinal – Cross Wasilewski (Penn) gained victory by decision against Andrew Clark (Rutgers) (Dec 4-3)
Cons. Semi – Andrew Clark (Rutgers) won by decision over Sam Cartella (Northwestern) (Dec 3-1)
3rd Place Match – Kade Brown (Pittsburgh) won by decision against Andrew Clark (Rutgers) (Dec 4-2)
 
Alex Nini (149)
Champ. Round 1 – Alex Nini (Rutgers) claimed victory by fall over Donald Pigoni (Harvard) (Fall 3:34)
Champ. Round 2 – Malyke Hines (Lehigh) won by decision against Alex Nini (Rutgers) (Dec 4-2)
Cons. Round 2 – Alex Nini (Rutgers) was granted a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 – Alex Nini (Rutgers) secured a win by decision over Anthony Bahl (Indiana) (Dec 8-2)
Cons. Round 4 – Alex Nini (Rutgers) achieved victory by decision against Ej Parco (Stanford) (Dec 6-5)
Cons. Round 5 – Kelly Dunnigan (Penn) won by decision against Alex Nini (Rutgers) (Dec 9-3)
 
Conner Harer (157)
Champ. Round 1 – Jt Chance (George Mason) triumphed by decision over Conner Harer (Rutgers) (Dec 6-5)
Cons. Round 1 – Conner Harer (Rutgers) won by decision against Antonio Alvarado (Illinois) (Dec 7-0)
Cons. Round 2 – Conner Harer (Rutgers) won by medical forfeit over Ryan Michaels (Edinboro) (MFF)
Cons. Round 3 – Conner Harer (Rutgers) secured a win by decision against Griffin Gonzalez (Lehigh) (Dec 6-0)
Cons. Round 4 – Grigor Cholakyan (Stanford) triumphed by decision over Conner Harer (Rutgers) (Dec 7-4)
 
Michael Cetta (157)
Champ. Round 1 – Logan Rozynski (Lehigh) gained victory by decision over Michael Cetta (Rutgers) (Dec 13-7)
Cons. Round 1 – Michael Cetta (Rutgers) was awarded a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 – Michael Cetta (Rutgers) won by decision against Abe Hinrichsen (Cal Poly) (Dec 13-11)
Cons. Round 3 – Cade Wirnsberger (Bucknell) triumphed by decision over Michael Cetta (Rutgers) (Dec 5-1)
 
Andrew Barbosa (165)
Champ. Round 1 – Andrew Barbosa (Rutgers) secured a win by tech fall over Cael Berg (Harvard) (TF 21-6)
Champ. Round 2 – Andrew Barbosa (Rutgers) achieved victory by decision against Bradley Gillum (SIU Edwardsville) (Dec 8-3)
Quarterfinal – Hunter Garvin (Stanford) gained a decision over Andrew Barbosa (Rutgers) (Dec 6-3)
Cons. Round 4 – Tyler Swiderski (Central Michigan) won by decision against Andrew Barbosa (Rutgers) (Dec 10-4)
 
Anthony White (165)
Champ. Round 1 – Anthony White (Rutgers) secured a win by decision against Jared Keslar (Pittsburgh) (Dec 4-2)
Champ. Round 2 – Anthony White (Rutgers) triumphed by decision over Gunnar Myers (Northwestern) (Dec 6-5)
Quarterfinal – Tyler Lillard (Indiana) achieved victory in sudden victory – 1 against Anthony White (Rutgers) (SV-1 2-1)
Cons. Round 4 – Cael Berg (Harvard) won by medical forfeit against Anthony White (Rutgers) (MFF)
 
Ryan Ford (165)
Champ. Round 1 – Ryan Ford (Rutgers) triumphed by decision over E`Than Birden (Ohio State) (Dec 4-2)
Champ. Round 2 – Evan Maag (George Mason) won by decision against Ryan Ford (Rutgers) (Dec 10-7)
Cons. Round 2 – Jared Keslar (Pittsburgh) gained victory by decision over Ryan Ford (Rutgers) (Dec 7-1)
 
Jackson Turley (174)
Champ. Round 1 – Jackson Turley (Rutgers) won by decision over Aiden Vandenbush (Northwestern) (Dec 5-3)
Champ. Round 2 – Jackson Turley (Rutgers) achieved victory by decision against Haden Bottigleiri (Harvard) (Dec 14-7)
Quarterfinal – Luca Augustine (Pittsburgh) won in sudden victory – 1 against Jackson Turley (Rutgers) (SV-1 8-5)
Cons. Round 4 – Jackson Turley (Rutgers) gained a win by major decision over Tommy Bennett (Northern Illinois) (Maj 17-8)
Cons. Round 5 – Jackson Turley (Rutgers) triumphed by fall over Collin Guffey (Stanford) (Fall 1:40)
Cons. Semi – Alex Cramer (Central Michigan) won by decision against Jackson Turley (Rutgers) (Dec 14-13)
5th Place Match – Jackson Turley (Rutgers) won by medical forfeit over Luca Augustine (Pittsburgh) (MFF)
 
Brian Soldano (184)
Champ. Round 1 – Brian Soldano (Rutgers) was awarded a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Brian Soldano (Rutgers) triumphed by decision over Logan Deacetis (Bucknell) (Dec 6-1)
Champ. Round 3 – Brian Soldano (Rutgers) won by fall against Cody Brenner (Central Michigan) (Fall 2:03)
Quarterfinal – Brian Soldano (Rutgers) achieved victory by major decision over Michael Squires (Princeton) (Maj 8-0)
Semifinal – Reece Heller (Pittsburgh) won by major decision over Brian Soldano (Rutgers) (Maj 16-7)
Cons. Semi – Brian Soldano (Rutgers) won by decision over Ian Bush (West Virginia) (Dec 12-11)
3rd Place Match – Maximus Hale (Penn) won by medical forfeit against Brian Soldano (Rutgers) (MFF)
 
Shane Cartagena-Walsh (184)
Champ. Round 1 – Shane Cartagena-Walsh (Rutgers) was awarded a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Shane Cartagena-Walsh (Rutgers) achieved a win by tech fall over Cory Thomas (Michigan State) (TF 18-3)
Champ. Round 3 – Shane Cartagena-Walsh (Rutgers) won by decision against Anthony Moscatello (Princeton) (Dec 8-2)
Quarterfinal – Shane Cartagena-Walsh (Rutgers) prevailed by decision over Abraham Wojcikiewicz (Stanford) (Dec 7-3)
Semifinal – Shane Cartagena-Walsh (Rutgers) emerged victorious in sudden victory – 1 against Nathan Haas (California Baptist) (SV-1 4-1)
1st Place Match – Reece Heller (Pittsburgh) gained victory by decision over Shane Cartagena-Walsh (Rutgers) (Dec 9-6)
 
John Poznanski (197)
Champ. Round 1 – John Poznanski (Rutgers) was given a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – John Poznanski (Rutgers) secured a win by tech fall over Cameron Wood (Central Michigan) (TF 22-6)
Quarterfinal – John Poznanski (Rutgers) won by decision over Rune Lawrence (West Virginia) (Dec 10-9)
Semifinal – Gabe Sollars (Indiana) triumphed by decision over John Poznanski (Rutgers) (Dec 9-5)
Cons. Semi – Evan Bates (Northwestern) won by medical forfeit against John Poznanski (Rutgers) (MFF)
5th Place Match – Dillon Bechtold (Bucknell) won by medical forfeit over John Poznanski (Rutgers) (MFF)
 
PJ Casale (197)
Champ. Round 1 – PJ Casale (Rutgers) was granted a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 – Mac Stout (Pittsburgh) achieved victory by major decision over PJ Casale (Rutgers) (Maj 14-6)
Cons. Round 2 – PJ Casale (Rutgers) won by tech fall against Mason Pellegri (Harvard) (TF 15-0)
Cons. Round 3 – PJ Casale (Rutgers) won by medical forfeit over Josh LaBarbera (Penn) (MFF)
Cons. Round 4 – Nick Stemmet (Stanford) triumphed by decision over PJ Casale (Rutgers) (Dec 6-3)
 
Yaraslau Slavikouski (HWT)
Champ. Round 1 – Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers) achieved victory by decision against Nolan Springer (Bucknell) (Dec 11-4)
Champ. Round 2 – Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers) won by disqualification over Josh Terrill (Michigan State) (DQ)
Quarterfinal – Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers) secured a win by tech fall over Nick Pavlechko (Indiana) (TF 15-0)
Semifinal – Jacob Bullock (Indiana) triumphed by decision against Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers) (Dec 4-1)
Cons. Semi – Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers) prevailed by major decision over Peter Ming (Stanford) (Maj 14-2)
3rd Place Match – Yaraslau Slavikouski (Rutgers) won by major decision over Logan Shephard (Bucknell) (Maj 10-2)
 
John O`Donnell (HWT)
Champ. Round 1 – Logan Shephard (Bucknell) won by fall over John O`Donnell (Rutgers) (Fall 3:19)
Cons. Round 1 – John O`Donnell (Rutgers) was granted a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 – John O`Donnell (Rutgers) secured a win by tech fall over Dirk Morley (Northwestern) (TF 15-0)
Cons. Round 3 – John O`Donnell (Rutgers) won by fall against John Pardo (Penn) (Fall 4:19)
Cons. Round 4 – Peter Ming (Stanford) achieved victory by fall over John O`Donnell (Rutgers) (Fall 2:58)