Yaraslau Slavikouski announces transfer commitment to Rutgers

Former Harvard heavyweight Yaraslau Slavikouski announced his commitment to Rutgers University in the latest college wrestling transfer portal move.

On the heels of Lucas Davison transferring from Northwestern to Michigan, the next best heavyweight made his decision. With graduation at Harvard upon him this spring, Slavikouski wanted to use his potential final year of eligibility.

He settled on the Big Ten at Rutgers.

“Beyond excited for the next chapter at (Rutgers Wrestling),” Slavikouski wrote on Instagram.

Slavikouski was linked to Michigan before the Wolverines opted to bring in Davison, a former All-American with the Wildcats. Needing a heavyweight, the Scarlet Knights pursued the former Round of 12 finisher.

Slavikouski finished one win shy of the All-American podium in 2023, losing to Davison in the blood round 4-2 in sudden victory.

The two could get very familiar with each other since they’ll both be in the Big Ten next season. The schedules have yet to come out, so it remains to be seen if Rutgers and Michigan will square off. But there’s the potential at in-season tournaments, as well as the Big Ten Championships.

Slavikouski went 30-6 last season, the best year of his college wrestling career. He is 64-15 in his career after a 4-1 campaign in 2022, an injury shortened season. 

Slavikouski was also a second-team All-American in 2020 after the NCAA Tournament was canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He finished 30-8 as a freshman for Harvard.

A member of the Belarus National Team, Slavikouski prepped at Northfield Mount Hermon (Mass.), where he served as a team captain and was a three-time Prep New England Champion. His brother, Valentin, was a four-time World Cup and Baltic Games championship wrestler.

Slavikouski is in line to replace outgoing heavyweight Boone McDermott. McDermott qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2023 but entered the transfer portal after the season.

Rutgers also has former New Jersey state champion PJ Casale on the roster. Casale wrestled in four matches this past season and took a redshirt as a freshman.

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With this addition, Rutgers has its most talented heavyweight since homegrown product Billy Smith, a former four-time NCAA qualifier for the program. The Scarlet Knights finished without an All-American in 2023, the first time since 2013 without one in a tournament.