Rutgers wrestling fans, get ready for a boost! The Scarlet Knights have added three-time NCAA qualifier Lenny Pinto to their roster. Read on to discover how this significant transfer from Nebraska bolsters Rutgers’ quest for wrestling dominance and what impact Pinto is expected to make.
Rutgers Wrestling Lands Three-Time NCAA Qualifier Lenny Pinto
Piscataway, N.J. — Rutgers University’s wrestling program has substantially strengthened its roster with teh addition of Lenny Pinto, a decorated wrestler transferring from the University of Nebraska. Mr. Pinto,a three-time NCAA qualifier adn 2025 Big Ten runner-up,is set to compete for the Scarlet Knights starting next fall,bringing a wealth of experiance and talent to the team.
The addition of Mr. Pinto follows the acquisition of Remy cotton from Michigan State, signaling Rutgers’ commitment to building a competitive wrestling program. These high-impact transfers are expected to make an immediate contribution to the team’s performance.
Reunion with Former Teammate
A notable aspect of Mr. pinto’s move is his reunion with Mikey Labriola, now an assistant coach at Rutgers. Mr. Labriola and Mr.Pinto were teammates at Nebraska, where Mr. Labriola achieved considerable success, amassing 120 career wins, earning five All-American honors, and finishing as the national runner-up in 2023. Their established rapport could prove beneficial for Mr. Pinto’s transition and performance at Rutgers.
Pinto’s Collegiate Achievements
Hailing from stroudsburg, Pa.,Mr. Pinto has an extraordinary track record. During his time with the Cornhuskers, he secured 70 career victories and qualified for the NCAA Championships for three consecutive years (2023-2025). Last season, competing at 174 pounds, Mr. Pinto achieved a 24-7 record and finished as the runner-up at the 2025 Big Ten Wrestling Championships held in Evanston,Ill. At the NCAA Championships, he was seeded No. 8 and recorded three wins, reaching the Blood round and contributing to Nebraska’s second-place team finish in Philadelphia.
Career Wins
70
NCAA Qualifiers
3
Big ten Finish (2025)
Runner-Up
Past Performances
Mr. Pinto’s success extends beyond the 2025 season. He also reached the Blood Round at the national tournament in 2024. During the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons,he competed at 184 pounds,achieving a 24-6 record in 2023-24 and securing 22 victories as a redshirt freshman.
High School and National Recognition
Before his collegiate career, Mr. Pinto was a standout wrestler at Stroudsburg High School, where he won the Pennsylvania state championship in 2020 and accumulated 119 wins. He also excelled in freestyle wrestling, winning gold at the 2019 Fargo Cadet National Championships, and earned a bronze medal in Greco-Roman.His talent was widely recognized, with Intermat ranking him No. 5 in his weight class and FloWrestling placing him as the No. 16 overall wrestler in the 2021 recruiting class.
Rutgers Wrestling Program Growth
Mr. Pinto joins a Rutgers program that is on the rise. The team sent seven wrestlers to the NCAA Championships last month in Philadelphia, with three athletes reaching the Blood Round. Rutgers concluded the regular season ranked No. 11 in the final NWCA Coaches Poll, marking their highest ranking as 2016. This achievement underscores the program’s consistent advancement under head coach Scott Goodale, who has led the team to 13 top-25 finishes.
Rutgers wrapped up the regular season No. 11 in the final NWCA coaches Poll, marking the Scarlet Knights’ highest finish in the rankings since they closed the 2015-16 campaign No. 10.
