Rutgers NCAA wrestling champion returning to mat for 1 more match

Ashnault was admittedly surprised when RAF offered up the match with Woods, who captured the world bronze medal in Croatia a year ago.

“My first impression was no warmup, I guess no layup, huh? There wasn’t a retired wrestler who had been competing in MMA who wanted it?” said Ashnault. “I made a joke about it, but then it was OK, game on. I have an opportunity to compete against the best in the country, and that excites me. It’s what I preach to my athletes. Your preparation is for opportunities like this.”

Ashnault said his Princeton athletes are excited for him. His family had more reservations.

“The wrestlers were all jacked up, they like I have the confidence to do this,” said Ashnault. “But my family felt like I was crazy. My mom was like, ‘You’re doing what? Come on.’”

Ashnault feels like this could be his retirement match. He signed a three-match contract but he feels that was more for a non-compete clause than a guarantee he will wrestle two more times.

“I realize I’m a coach and that’s where my focus is,” said Ashnault. “I don’t want to go back to competing full-time and wrestling in tournaments. If there was a good time to sneak it in, it’s now.

“I love what I do coaching-wise, and I’m progressing in my coaching career. I do miss the competition and when I sit in that chair I wish I was out there, so this fills that competitive void. To have this match is very rewarding. I look forward to showing off the best version of my wrestling. I think I can shock some people. I’m going to let it fly and try to put some points on the board.”

Ashnault has been rumored to fill the Scarlet Knights’ vacant assistant coaching opening that became available when Steve Mytych stepped down. Ashnault - who was previously a Rutgers assistant while still competing on the senior level - said he couldn’t speak on whether he was a candidate.

Another former Rutgers wrestler, Mike VanBrill, will also compete on the card against Jordan Oliver in a middleweight match.

There will be 12 matches overall. Olympic gold medalists Kyle Snyder and Helen Maroulis are among the competitors on the card, which begins at 8 p.m. and will be shown on Fox Nation.

MORE RUTGERS COVERAGE

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• Rutgers basketball: Veteran forward re-signs with Scarlet Knights
• Rutgers lands sharpshooting transfer from low-major that torched Scarlet Knights
• Rutgers basketball re-signs leading scorer for another season

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