Rutgers Wrestling Qualifies Eight for NCAA Championships

Scarlet Knights send their largest contingent to nationals since 2024

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Rutgers wrestling team had a strong performance at the 2026 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, qualifying eight wrestlers for the NCAA Championships in Cleveland later this month. This marks the most Scarlet Knights heading to nationals since 2024, and just the fourth time in program history the team has qualified eight or more wrestlers.

Why it matters

Rutgers wrestling has been on an upward trajectory, consistently sending five or more wrestlers to the NCAA Championships for the past 12 years. Qualifying eight this year demonstrates the program's continued growth and competitiveness on the national stage.

The details

The Scarlet Knights finished eighth in the team standings with 63.5 points, racking up 27 wins over the weekend, including 18 against ranked opponents. Rutgers boasted seven placewinners at the conference tournament, including a standout upset victory by Andrew Barbosa over 2025 NCAA runner-up Joey Blaze of Purdue.

  • The 2026 Big Ten Wrestling Championships took place in March.
  • The NCAA Wrestling Championships will be held March 19-21 in Cleveland.

The players

Rutgers Wrestling

The wrestling team from Rutgers University, a Division I program that has been on an upward trajectory in recent years.

Hunter Catka

A Rutgers wrestler who qualified for his fourth NCAA Championships appearance.

Andrew Barbosa

A Rutgers wrestler who pulled off an upset victory over 2025 NCAA runner-up Joey Blaze of Purdue.

Scott Goodale

The head coach of the Rutgers wrestling team.

Dylan Shawver

A Rutgers wrestler who finished just outside automatic qualification for the NCAA Championships but remains a contender for an at-large bid.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

If both Dylan Shawver (133) and Anthony White (157) receive at-large bids, Rutgers would send its full lineup to the national tournament for only the second time in school history.

The takeaway

Rutgers wrestling's success in qualifying eight wrestlers for the NCAA Championships demonstrates the program's continued growth and competitiveness on the national stage, building on its consistent track record of sending five or more wrestlers to the national tournament over the past 12 years.