Rutgers wrestling finds its next heavyweight in the transfer portal

Iowa State heavyweight wrestler Daniel Herrera announced on his Instagram that he had committed to continue his career at Rutgers. Herrera has three years of eligibility remaining. He redshirted this season behind national finalist Yonger Bastida but was a national qualifier two years ago when he went 29-15, finishing fifth at the Big 12 Championships and going 0-2 at NCAAs.

Herrera replaces Hunter Catka, who transferred to Rutgers from Virginia Tech for his final season. Catka reached the blood round at NCAAs but lost in sudden victory after leading late, sealing Rutgers’ second straight year without an All-American . Herrera’s arrival continues a trend of transfer heavyweights.

Before Catka, Harvard transfer Yaraslau Slavikouski filled the role for two years - earning All-American honors his first season - after Boone McDermott held the spot for two years following his transfer from Iowa Central Community College. The Scarlet Knights have one of the best scholastic heavyweights in the country committed in Malvern Prep (Pa. )’s Lukas Zalota , but he is a junior who still has a year of high school remaining.

The Scarlet Knights will be looking to replace six senior starters next season, but heavyweight is the only spot they really needed to hit the portal. Redshirt freshman Brandon Toranzo and junior Haydn Packer were the only heavyweights on the roster, but neither projected as a starter. The Scarlet Knights have potential in-house replacements for Dylan Shawver (133), Joey Olivieri (141), Andy Clark (149), Tony White (157) and Lenny Pinto (174) which doesn’t preclude them from going into the portal to find someone to compete for those spots.