The Rutgers wrestling team features plenty of New Jersey talent and one of those home-grown grapplers will start off the season with a No.6 national ranking as senior Richie Lewis is among the top 157-pounders in the country.
“Earlier on in my career, it would be pretty cool. But right now, I don’t really mind what I am ranked,” Lewis said this past week. “The way I see being ranked sixth in the country is that expert over at InterMat thinks five other men in the country can beat me. And I don’t really agree with that.”
Prior to transferring into Rutgers, Lewis was a two-year standout and junior college All-American at Iowa Central.
However, he always had his eye on Rutgers.
“Everyone thinks I am new to the program, which I am essentially,” Lewis said. “But coach [Scott] Goodale is from Toms River and that is where I am from. He has been on my case since I was probably 17. He has always been there for me and he has always seen the vision. I didn’t see the vision when I was 15 and 16. And then you see the best recruits coming into Rutgers and they are setting that stepping stone. And then other recruits like [Anthony] Ashnault are coming in. Then you see the program on the rise and the whole New Jersey jumping on the bandwagon. It’s really been great.”
With one more year to go, Lewis has the opportunity to achieve All-American status. However, he talked about some of the other rewarding aspects of being an RU grappler.
“You have to grind, but it is a fun time. You get to spend time with your friends, brothers and coaches and you get to build a camaraderie. Then you get to put it on the line against the best in the country week in and week out and you get to prove yourself. That is the best part for me.”
For one more season, Lewis will have the advantage of wrestling in what has turned out to be a raucous home environment at The RAC.
“It is hard to lose in this place because you walk out there and you can feel the energy. No matter what is going on in your head, you look up and see four or five thousand people and it is hard not to be excited and go as hard as you can.”
