Dylan Shawver wins Rutgers' first Big Ten title since 2019

Rutgers‘ Dylan Shawver, the No. 2 seed a 133 pounds, poured it on in a 23-8 technical fall over No. 1 Dylan Ragusin (Michigan). He won the Scarlet Knights their first individual Big Ten title since 2019.

Early takedowns and near fall points led the way for Shawver. Previously, Ragusin won the two regular season meetings in 2024.

This time, Shawver came out on top and assured himself of a pretty high seed at NCAAs.

“Last year, halfway through the season, I had to take a medical (redshirt),” Shawver said. “That actually opened up my eyes … Up at 133, my new weight, I feel amazing. It’s my new weight. I’m not going anywhere.”

.@DylanShawver after his Big Ten Championship win. First @RUWrestling Big Ten champ since Anthony Ashnault and Nick Suriano in 2019. #RelentlessPursuit pic.twitter.com/H8mM6Mg5sw

— Nick Kosko (@nickkosko59) March 10, 2024

Shawver is a previous NCAA qualifier at 125 pounds for Rutgers, but took a medical redshirt halfway through last season. That paved the way for Dean Peterson, who finished in the Blood Round last year and took 5th at 125 pounds in this year’s Big Ten Championships.

“I manifest these things man,” Shawver said. “When I say I manifest them, I know they’re going to come true as long as I believe. That’s me, I believe. Once you give up, you lose all hope … I’ve had this vision since I was a kid … I knew I was better than (former wrestler Nic Aguilar when I came in). He’s a good wrestler, but without that ambition and drive I have, none of this would be possible.”

Even this writer’s pre-tournament picks had Ragusin taking out Shawver for a third time this season. But Shawver was gritty and wanted it more.

“I wanted this bad,” Shawver said. “Been dreaming it and letting it all fly out there … It’s really all the hard work I put out there. I wouldnt’ be as fast as I am without the conditioning and my drill partners (Devon) Britton, (Joe) Fongaro, my coaches for putting me in this position I’m in.”

Rutgers only had two wrestlers win Big Ten titles in school history. Ashnault was a three-time champion and Suriano won his in 2019. That year, the two won national titles, the first in program history.

Shawver’s name is now added to an elite list in Scarlet Knight history, but the NCAA Tournament in Kansas City in two weeks.

“Means a lot. Probably not as much as it means to me, but it’s definitely up there,” Shawver said of the Rutgers history.

As always, Shawver said the “job’s not finished.”