N.J. College Wrestling Teams Aim for NCAA Bids at Conference Tournaments

Rutgers, Rider, and Princeton look to punch tickets to the NCAA Wrestling Championships this weekend.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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New Jersey's three Division I wrestling teams - Rutgers, Rider, and Princeton - will compete in their respective conference championships this weekend, with the goal of earning automatic bids to the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Cleveland next month. The teams have varying levels of confidence in their wrestlers' ability to qualify, with some having multiple top seeds and others needing strong performances to secure at-large bids.

Why it matters

Qualifying for the NCAA Wrestling Championships is the ultimate goal for these programs, as it allows their top wrestlers to compete for individual national titles and helps build the reputation and recruiting power of the schools. With the high-stakes nature of these conference tournaments, the outcomes will have a significant impact on the future of these wrestling programs.

The details

Rider has three No. 1 seeds - Tyler Klinsky (125), Eli Griffin (141), and Brock Zurawski (197) - and is confident they will punch their tickets to the NCAAs. Will Betancourt (133) and Dylan Layton (149) are also seeded within the allocations and have a chance to qualify. Rutgers could potentially send its entire lineup to the NCAAs for the first time since 2016, led by wrestlers like Tony White (157) and Joey Olivieri (141). However, Dylan Shawver (133) is on the bubble and needs a strong performance. Princeton has been plagued by injuries this season, but still hopes to qualify upwards of six wrestlers, including Marc-Anthony McGowan (125), Eligh Rivera (149), and Ty Whalen (165).

  • The Mid-American Conference Championships will take place on Friday and Saturday in Buffalo, New York.
  • The Big Ten Championships will be held on Saturday and Sunday at Penn State University.
  • The Ivy League Championships will be contested on Sunday at Columbia University.

The players

John Hangey

The head coach of the Rider Broncs wrestling team.

Scott Goodale

The head coach of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights wrestling team.

Joe Dubuque

The head coach of the Princeton Tigers wrestling team.

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What they’re saying

“I want us to have the No. 1 program, but I just want them to wrestle the way we have all year and don't focus on that. Go and do what they can control, look over at the end and see where we're at.”

— John Hangey, Head Coach, Rider Broncs

“I never count on (at-large bids). We've been burned so many times waiting on an at-large bid. You never know what's going to happen across the country, It's best to handle business. All of us need to perform at a certain level.”

— Scott Goodale, Head Coach, Rutgers Scarlet Knights

“Nobody remembers your record if you have a NCAA champ and a couple All-Americans. That cures all. The adversity these guys have faced prepares you. Experiences will help us in this tournament based on the type of schedule we faced.”

— Joe Dubuque, Head Coach, Princeton Tigers

What’s next

The NCAA Wrestling Championships will take place from March 19-21 in Cleveland, Ohio. The wrestlers who earn automatic bids at this weekend's conference tournaments will secure their spots in the national tournament, while those on the bubble will have to wait to see if they receive at-large bids.

The takeaway

This weekend's conference wrestling tournaments will be high-stakes affairs for the New Jersey teams, as they look to punch their tickets to the NCAA Championships and keep their seasons alive. The outcomes will have a major impact on the future of these programs, with automatic bids and potential at-large selections on the line.