Rutgers piles up bonus points to beat Northwestern 30-10 in Evanston
Tech fall, major and pin propelled the Scarlet Knights to a 30-10 Big Ten dual victory at Welsh‑Ryan Arena.
EVANSTON, Ill. — Rutgers defeated Northwestern 30-10 on Jan. 23, 2026, using a string of bonus-point results to secure a Big Ten road win at Welsh‑Ryan Arena.
Dylan Shawver produced the first major swing for Rutgers with an 18-3 technical fall at 133 pounds, a result that supplied five team points and extended the visitors’ lead. Shawver finished the bout with multiple takedowns, opponent penalties and a riding-time point that completed the technical fall.
Northwestern countered at 174 when Eddie Enright upset No. 15 Lenny Pinto, winning 14-3 by major decision. Enright erased a three-point deficit, took the lead with takedowns and sealed the result with a riding-time point in the third period, a sequence that trimmed Rutgers’ cushion and gave Northwestern momentum early in the dual.
Rutgers regained control with consecutive bonus outcomes. No. 15 Shane Cartagena‑Walsh earned a 14-5 major decision at 184 by recording takedowns across the match and a riding-time point. Remy Cotton, ranked No. 13, followed with a pin at 197 after building a 17-3 margin with takedowns, and his fall effectively ended Northwestern’s comeback hopes.
The Scarlet Knights also collected decisions that added to the final margin. No. 19 Hunter Catka closed an 8-2 victory at heavyweight with a third-period takedown and a riding-time point. No. 24 Andrew Clark edged August Hibler 2-1 at 149 by escaping in the third and earning riding time, while No. 32 Anthony White posted a 4-0 decision at 157 with a late first-period takedown and a second-period escape. Rutgers received an additional decision point at 165 via forfeit.
Northwestern’s other individual winners were No. 25 Dedrick Navarro (6-3 at 125) and No. 33 Billy Dekraker (4-1 at 141). Navarro recovered from an early deficit to take the lead with an escape and a second-period takedown, and Dekraker opened his match with a late first-period takedown and preserved the lead with an early second-period escape.
Rutgers entered the dual ranked No. 17 in the team’s release and improved its record to 8-4 overall and 2-2 in Big Ten reporting after the meet. Northwestern fell to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in conference coverage. Rutgers is scheduled to visit No. 12 Illinois next weekend, according to team notices published after the dual.