CLARION, Pa. --- The Golden Eagles will host a pair of nonconference opponents this weekend, Rutgers on Friday and California Baptist on Saturday. Rutgers comes into the match ranked 17^th in the NWCA Coaches Poll with a record of 5-2, and Cal Baptist carries a record of 2-2, most recently beating Air Force 28-3.

Previous Matches  
The Scarlet Knights and the Golden Eagles have faced off six times in the past, with their most recent meeting in the 2022-23 season. Rutgers came out on top with a 29-4 score with Ty Bagoly securing the only Golden Eagle victory with a 12-2 major decision over Michael Toranzo. This will be the first time the Scarlet Knights have taken a trip to Clarion since the 2013-14 campaign which also resulted in a victory for the BIG-10 opponent.

Clarion has wrestled Cal Baptist once before at the VMI Quad meet, which they defeated the Lancers 30-10 which completed a perfect 3-0 day. The Golden Eagles win was powered by bonus point victories with a pair of tech falls from Seth Koleno and Greg Bulsak. The highlight of the match was a first period pin from 157-pounder Jalin Hankerson over Zachary Rowe.

Match Preview vs Rutgers
Rutgers comes to Tippin Gymnasium with nine nationally ranked wrestlers in their starting lineup with heavyweight Yaraslau Slavikouski currently sitting at sixth. The Scarlet Knights are riding a two-match winning streak defeating Princeton 32-7 and Lock Haven 34-6.

At 174 pounds, the match should be a pair of seniors with John Worthing is projected to go for the Golden Eagles, and #19 Jackson Turley going for the Scarlet Knights. Worthing has not wrestled since the George Mason dual meet where he won by a 9-4 decision. The two have faced each other once before in the 2021 dual meet with Worthing coming up victorious with a 12-6 decision.

Kyle Schickel hopes to build momentum coming off a victory over Drexel's Dominic Findora. He currently sits at 2-1 in dual meets and finished second at the Big Red Invitational. He is expected to face either Andrew Clark or Michael Cetta.  Both were NCAA qualifiers with Clark earning a bid in 2023 and Cetta securing an at-large bid in 2024.  

Match Preview vs Cal Baptist
The Lancers travel across the country to take on the Golden Eagles for a Saturday matinee. Cal Baptist is sitting at 2-2 with a recent victory 28-3 victory over the Air Force. The Lancers won nine of the ten matches, eight of which were by decision and a major decision at 149 pounds.

Clarion's 141 pounder is projected to be David McClelland or Gianni Silvestri. McClelland was the starter for the Drexel match falling to Jordan Soriano by a 17-5 major decision. For the Lancers, the starter at 141 pounds will be Elijah Griffin, an NCAA qualifier last year and the team's leader in wins last year with 22.  

Another match that could swing the match in either direction will be at 197 pounds when Ethan Wiant will take on Eli Shereen. Wiant gave Drexel's Mickey O'Malley all that he could handle losing in a 7-0 decision that was closer than the score indicates. Shereen is coming off a victory over Air Force's nationally ranked Brian Burburija in a 4-1 decision.  

Scott Johnson has an opportunity to win his first dual meet match of the year taking on the Cal Baptist's freshman Richard Murillo or potentially Hunter Leake. Johnson is looking to recapture his form from the Big Red Invitational where he won three matches via bonus point situations including a pin of Sacred Heart Anthony Samuels. Murillo is coming off a victory in the Air Force match, and a first-place finish at the Journeyman Collegiate Classic. Leake earned an NCAA auto-bid last year but has not wrestled since the November 9^th match vs Campbell.