Rutgers wrestling starts slow, finishes strong with two underdog NCAA quarterfinalists
By Bill Evans
Published on March 20, 2026.
Rutgers' wrestling team finished the day of the NCAA Wrestling Championships with two unexpected quarterfinalists, 15-seeded 197-pounder Remy Cotton and 27th-seeding heavyweight Hunter Catka, who had previously lost their first seven matches. Despite losing their first eight matches, the team managed to turn the day around, with Cotton upsetting No. 2 seed Rocky Elam of Iowa State 12-4 and Catka winning 2-1 in a tiebreaker against North Carolina’s 11th-seed Devon Dawson. Despite the team's slow start, coach Scott Goodale expressed confidence in Catka's performance, especially considering his recent major win over North Carolina's Devon Dawson in the Midlands final. Catka will next face Michigan's Taye Ghadiali in the quarterfinals.
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