Wrestling Announces 2018 Signing Class
Nov 15 | Wrestling
Five-wrestler class set to compete for Rutgers in fall of 2018
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers wrestling head coach Scott Goodale introduced five wrestlers – Nicolas Aguilar, Jake Benner, Billy Janzer, Kyle Lighter and Malcolm Robinson – who all signed National Letters of Intent (NLI's) to compete for the Scarlet Knights beginning in the fall of 2018.
Janzer (No. 5, 182 lbs), Robinson (No. 7, 145 lbs), Aguilar (No. 9, 120 lbs), and Benner (No. 18, 145 lbs) are all rated within the top 20 of their respective weight classes, according to Intermat. Benner, Janzer and Lightner all collected NJSIAA state titles in 2017.
"This is a class that certainly takes care of our needs, as all five are blue-chip recruits that are in the top-100 Intermat rankings for their weight classes," Goodale said. "There's a lot of titles, state championships and national titles in this group, so these guys have won at the highest level. It is one of the best classes we have ever brought in."
Nicolas Aguilar
Gilroy, Calif. • Gilroy
Scholastic Weight: 120 pounds • Projected Collegiate Weight: 125 pounds
Prior to Rutgers: Competes at Gilroy High School in Gilroy, California … rated the No. 9 high school recruit at 120 pounds by Intermat … captured first at the 2017 California World Challenge this past October … two-time California state runner up, finishing second in 2017 and 2016 … closed out 2016-17 season with a 34-2 record … three-time CIF State placewinner … runner-up at NHSCA Junior Nationals … Junior National freestyle champion in 2016 … three-time Fargo Junior National Champion.
Jake Benner
Ocean Township, N.J. • Ocean Township
Scholastic Weight: 145 pounds • Projected Collegiate Weight: 149 pounds
Prior to Rutgers: Competes at Ocean Township High School … rated the No. 18 high school recruit at 145 pounds by Intermat … 2017 NJSIAA state champion at 138 pounds … finished 2016-17 with a 41-1 record … closed junior campaign with 33 consecutive victories … 2017 Region 6 and District 24 champion … 2016-17 Shore Conference Wrestler of the Year by NJ.com … competed at the Fargo Junior Freestyle national championships at 145 over the summer.
Billy Janzer
Monroeville, N.J. • Delsea Regional
Scholastic Weight: 170 pounds • Projected Collegiate Weight: 174/184 pounds
Prior to Rutgers: Competes at Delsea Regional High School … rated the No. 5 high school recruit at 170 pounds by Intermat … 2017 NJSIAA state champion at 170 pounds … finished 2016-17 with a 44-2 record … 2017 Region 8 Most Outstanding Wrestler, repeating as region and district champion … named to the South Jersey Times all-area wrestling team … 2016 state place-winner with third-place finish at 160 pounds as a sophomore … finished third in 2016 at 170 pounds at the Cadet Freestyle Junior National Championships.
Kyle Lightner
Frenchtown, N.J. • Delaware Valley
Scholastic Weight: 195 pounds • Projected Collegiate Weight: 197 pounds
Prior to Rutgers: Competes at Delaware Valley High School … 2017 NJSIAA state champion at 197 pounds … finished 2016-17 with a 41-2 record … helped Delaware Valley claim its first state title since 1999 … Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex wrestling champion … district and regional champion … First Team All-Area by the Courier News … finished sixth in the Cadet National Greco-Roman competition at junior nationals in Fargo in 2016.
Malcolm Robinson
Edison, N.J. • Blair Academy
Scholastic Weight: 145 pounds • Projected Collegiate Weight: 149 pounds
Prior to Rutgers: Competes at Blair Academy … rated the No. 7 recruit at 145 pounds by Intermat … helped Blair capture its 17th consecutive Beast of the East championship with an individual title at 138 pounds … competed at the 2017 Junior National Dual Freestyle tournament and finished third at Walsh Ironman in 2016 … 2016 WCAC High School champion as a sophomore at St. John's College High School in Washington, D.C. … closed out 2015-16 with a 56-7 record.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers wrestling, follow the program on Twitter (@RUWrestling) and Instagram (@RUWrestling). Fans can receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on our social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.
Janzer (No. 5, 182 lbs), Robinson (No. 7, 145 lbs), Aguilar (No. 9, 120 lbs), and Benner (No. 18, 145 lbs) are all rated within the top 20 of their respective weight classes, according to Intermat. Benner, Janzer and Lightner all collected NJSIAA state titles in 2017.
"This is a class that certainly takes care of our needs, as all five are blue-chip recruits that are in the top-100 Intermat rankings for their weight classes," Goodale said. "There's a lot of titles, state championships and national titles in this group, so these guys have won at the highest level. It is one of the best classes we have ever brought in."
Nicolas Aguilar
Gilroy, Calif. • Gilroy
Scholastic Weight: 120 pounds • Projected Collegiate Weight: 125 pounds
Prior to Rutgers: Competes at Gilroy High School in Gilroy, California … rated the No. 9 high school recruit at 120 pounds by Intermat … captured first at the 2017 California World Challenge this past October … two-time California state runner up, finishing second in 2017 and 2016 … closed out 2016-17 season with a 34-2 record … three-time CIF State placewinner … runner-up at NHSCA Junior Nationals … Junior National freestyle champion in 2016 … three-time Fargo Junior National Champion.
Jake Benner
Ocean Township, N.J. • Ocean Township
Scholastic Weight: 145 pounds • Projected Collegiate Weight: 149 pounds
Prior to Rutgers: Competes at Ocean Township High School … rated the No. 18 high school recruit at 145 pounds by Intermat … 2017 NJSIAA state champion at 138 pounds … finished 2016-17 with a 41-1 record … closed junior campaign with 33 consecutive victories … 2017 Region 6 and District 24 champion … 2016-17 Shore Conference Wrestler of the Year by NJ.com … competed at the Fargo Junior Freestyle national championships at 145 over the summer.
Billy Janzer
Monroeville, N.J. • Delsea Regional
Scholastic Weight: 170 pounds • Projected Collegiate Weight: 174/184 pounds
Prior to Rutgers: Competes at Delsea Regional High School … rated the No. 5 high school recruit at 170 pounds by Intermat … 2017 NJSIAA state champion at 170 pounds … finished 2016-17 with a 44-2 record … 2017 Region 8 Most Outstanding Wrestler, repeating as region and district champion … named to the South Jersey Times all-area wrestling team … 2016 state place-winner with third-place finish at 160 pounds as a sophomore … finished third in 2016 at 170 pounds at the Cadet Freestyle Junior National Championships.
Kyle Lightner
Frenchtown, N.J. • Delaware Valley
Scholastic Weight: 195 pounds • Projected Collegiate Weight: 197 pounds
Prior to Rutgers: Competes at Delaware Valley High School … 2017 NJSIAA state champion at 197 pounds … finished 2016-17 with a 41-2 record … helped Delaware Valley claim its first state title since 1999 … Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex wrestling champion … district and regional champion … First Team All-Area by the Courier News … finished sixth in the Cadet National Greco-Roman competition at junior nationals in Fargo in 2016.
Malcolm Robinson
Edison, N.J. • Blair Academy
Scholastic Weight: 145 pounds • Projected Collegiate Weight: 149 pounds
Prior to Rutgers: Competes at Blair Academy … rated the No. 7 recruit at 145 pounds by Intermat … helped Blair capture its 17th consecutive Beast of the East championship with an individual title at 138 pounds … competed at the 2017 Junior National Dual Freestyle tournament and finished third at Walsh Ironman in 2016 … 2016 WCAC High School champion as a sophomore at St. John's College High School in Washington, D.C. … closed out 2015-16 with a 56-7 record.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers wrestling, follow the program on Twitter (@RUWrestling) and Instagram (@RUWrestling). Fans can receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on our social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.
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