Weekend Transfer Recap (4/14/25)

There were a handful of notable transfer announcements over the weekend. Rather than just listing them in another transfer portal announcement, we’ll give more details about them here. 

Rutgers continued to add through the portal and found the replacement for All-American Yaraslau Slavikouski in Hunter Catka - formerly of Virginia Tech. Catka was a two-time ACC runner-up and three-time national qualifier for the Hokies. In his most recent NCAA appearance, Catka advanced to the NCAA Round of 12 before his elimination. Catka was tabbed as the #6 overall recruit in the Class of 2020 coming out of high school. Coach Scott Goodale and crew have done an excellent job addressing potential holes for the Scarlet Knights in 2025-26. Rutgers could unleash a 2025-26 lineup that includes seven returning national qualifiers. 

Virginia Tech lost Catka to the portal but added three-time national qualifier Ethen Miller from Maryland. Miller was the #1 seed at the Big Ten Championships at 157 lbs this season. He went on to take sixth and earned the #10 seed at nationals. In each of his three trips to the NCAA Tournament, Miller has finished 1-2. Miller’s addition could lead to some lineup movement for the Hokies. He could slide in at 157 and let 2025 ACC champion Rafael Hipolito bump up to 165 lbs. We’ll have to see if that forces returning qualifier Mac Church up to 174 lbs. 

Purdue also shored up their lineup with a pair of portal additions. The first is 2025 NCAA qualifier Blake Boarman who comes aboard from Chattanooga. Boarman made his first trip to the NCAA tournament this year after finishing second in the SoCon and earning an automatic bid. He was rewarded with the #20 seed. Boarman turned heads early this season when he upset returning All-American Nasir Bailey then of Little Rock. It’ll be a homecoming, of sorts, for Boarman who was an Indiana state champion for Evansville’s Mater Dei High School. 

The Boilermakers also added at 149 lbs with Gavin Brown of Big Ten rival Ohio State. Brown went 4-3 in 2024-25 for the Buckeyes primarily at 149 lbs. Though he went 0-2 at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, Brown lost a pair of close matches to eventual national qualifiers. Both additions for Purdue come at weights that they have not qualified in each of the last three seasons. 

Rider also doubled up on the transfers with Eli Griffin and Dylan Layton. Griffin was a 2024 NCAA qualifier for California Baptist at 125 lbs. In Kansas City, Griffin picked up two wins including one over West Virginia’s Jett Strickenberger. This year, Griffin moved up to 141 and went 10-6, but did not qualify for nationals. Layton comes over from MAC rival Cleveland State. He redshirted in 2024-25 and went 22-5 overall. In three years of competition at Cleveland State, Layton has amassed a 52-18 record (including the redshirt season). Layton should slot in well at 149 lbs for Rider. 

Transfers have been important to Rider as they’ve had transfers on the podium in each of the last two years (at 149) and three of their last four AA’s have been from transfers. Coach John Hangey and crew have done a good job at getting previously overlooked wrestlers a chance at mat time and that needed “something” to get over the hump and into the top eight. 

West Virginia may have added their 125 lber of the future and perhaps the present, as well. Big 12 champion Jett Strickenberger had to work very hard to make the weight in 2024-25 and might need to move up to 133 lbs next season. If that’s the case, NC State transfer Louie Gill should be able to slide right in and hit the ground running. Gill went 14-3 in 2024-25, while redshirting. Two of his losses were avenged later in the season and one came to teammate and eventual NCAA champion Vince Robinson. Gill hails from northwestern Pennsylvania so moving to West Virginia is also coming closer to home. 

Little Rock also got a good young prospect in Brock Herman - formerly of Ohio State. Herman saw a lot of mat time in 2024-25, as a redshirt freshman, and put together a 15-7 record. In the second week of the season, Herman downed eventual All-American Caleb Fish at the Michigan State Open. He competed at 157 and 165 lbs for the Buckeyes. Little Rock does return Pac-12 champion Matty Bianchi at 157; however, one of them might move up to replace his brother Joey at 165 lbs.