Scott Goodale, Donny Pritzlaff preview Rutgers at NCAA Wrestling Championships

Rutgers head coach Scott Goodale knows it’s the underdog mentality for the Scarlet Knights at the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships. The team qualified seven of its 10 starters for the tournament but none stuck out like previous national champions and All-Americans.

But perhaps the Jersey mentality is just what this team needs after an up and down dual campaign with a young roster. Simply put, the Scarlet Knights are hungry and loose.

In exclusive conversations with On3, Goodale and Pritzlaff previewed Rutgers’ tournament chances.

“For the first time in a long time we don’t have that automatic, I know there’s never really an automatic, but you think of the Anthony Ashnaults, Nick Suriano’s, Sebastian Rivera’s guys like like that we’re gonna have to fight like we did when we first started 16 years ago,” Goodale said. “And that’s kind of exciting. You know, we’re kind of excited. I’ve said it all week long, crazy things happen at this tournament. Just stick to it, stay in the fight, continue to battle, good things will happen if you believe it. And we’re just gonna wrestle hard and that’s all we can do. 

“We know it’s a team right now, it’s kind of an underdog really in every single weight so probably have to do some work on the backside, but that’s the national tournament and it can humble you. But it can also set up for great memories and great success, so we’re excited about that.”

As far as associate head coach Pritzlaff is concerned, he echoed Goodale’s statements. Pritzlaff knows a thing or two about this tournament, having won two national titles himself at Wisconsin.

“Guys are excited,” Pritzlaff said. “Coming to the NCAAs, walking into the arena you feel those emotions again. You feel excited. Guys start to realize they put in a lot of hard work and discipline all year. Take the mat tomorrow, control those emotions because we still have less than 24 hours because it’ll wear you out if you don’t do it the right way.”

Rutgers qualified Dean Peterson (125), Joe Heilmann (133), Anthony White (149), Andrew Clark (157), Jackson Turley (174), Brian Soldano (184) and Boone McDermott (285).

“We have a lot of Big Ten guys in the first round so we’re familiar with those guys,” Pritzlaff said. “Those are matchups we can turn around … that’s always a good thing too … I think starting fast with Dean right away. He has to start fast. If he lets him hang around, it’s gonna be a close match. Dean could always blow it wide open … I think getting Dean going and attacking and making this guy wrestle him … that’ll bleed into the rest of the crew. That’s the most important part. Get a good start and the guys will feed off each other. These guys are pretty tight so they’ll feed off each other’s momentum.”

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