Rutgers Wrestling Claims Historic First Ken Kraft Midlands Championships Title
Rutgers wrestling secured its first-ever Ken Kraft Midlands Championships Team Title on Tuesday in Evanston, Illinois, despite competing with a limited roster. The Scarlet Knights finished with 93 points,narrowly defeating No. 14 Pittsburgh (92.5) and Bucknell (83).
A Championship Effort with a Smaller Squad
The No.17 ranked Rutgers team achieved this milestone while strategically managing its competitive schedule. Due too the tournament’s status as an unofficial date, only six student-athletes were sent to compete, with limitations on scoring due to multiple entries.
Individual Brilliance Drives Team Success
The Scarlet Knights’ victory was fueled by individual championships from No. 15 Shane Cartagena-walsh (184) and No. 25 Hunter Catka (HWT). strong performances also came from No. 18 Remy Cotton (197) and No. 32 Andrew Barbosa (165), who both secured runner-up finishes.
This marks the program’s first Midlands team title, building on previous successes with second-place finishes in the last two years, 2017 and 2024. It also represents Rutgers’ second team championship of the 2025-26 season, following their win at the 2025 Keystone Classic in Philadelphia.
Midlands Championships Placewinners:
- First: Shane Cartagena-Walsh (184)
- First: Hunter Catka (Hwt)
- Second: Remy Cotton (197)
- Second: Andrew Barbosa (165)
- Fourth: Ryan Ford (165)
- Fourth: Conner Hare (157)*
- Seventh: Dylan Shawver (133)*
- Eighth: Jordan Chapman (174)*
- Eighth: PJ Casale (197)
- *competed unattached
Catka and cartagena-Walsh Dominate
In the heavyweight division, Catka delivered a commanding performance, defeating no. 21 Devon Dawson (Northern Illinois) with a 12-2 major decision. This victory followed an injury default win over No. 23 Trevor Tinker (Cal Poly), where Catka held a 5-1 led before Tinker was unable to continue.
Cartagena-Walsh secured his title at 184 pounds via medical forfeit from No.32 Chris Moore (Illinois). Throughout the tournament, the redshirt sophomore showcased his dominance, winning all bouts by bonus points, including a string of three consecutive tech falls. He outscored his opponents 66-20 leading up to the final match.
Close Contests and Resilient Performances
Barbosa and Cotton both fought hard in their championship matches, but ultimately fell short. Barbosa lost a narrow 4-3 decision to e’Than Birden (Ohio State), while Cotton was defeated by 2025 NCAA qualifier Seth Shumate (Ohio State) by major decision.
Despite early setbacks, Ryan Ford (165) demonstrated resilience, winning five consecutive matches to reach the third-place match, securing a fourth-place finish overall. PJ Casale (197) also contributed to the team score, finishing eighth.
Unattached Wrestlers Contribute
Rutgers also saw success from its wrestlers competing unattached. Conner Hare (157) finished fourth, while No.20 Dylan Shawver (133) and Jordan Chapman secured seventh and eighth place, respectively.Hare notably defeated three-time NCAA qualifier Kal Miller (maryland) in overtime. Chapman earned wins over top-10 seeds en route to the quarterfinals.
looking Ahead
Rutgers will continue its season on Saturday, January 10, with a dual meet against no. 1 Penn State in University Park. The 4 p.m. competition is scheduled for a national broadcast on big Ten Network.
