Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Rutgers-Newark

 Known as the Scarlet Raiders, Rutgers-Newark competed in NCAA Division III as well as the NAIA

Jim Andrich 

Andrich was a standout for the Scarlet Raiders earning 102 victories, 57 of them by fall. A four time NCAA Division III qualifier, Andrich made the Metropolitan Finals three years running, including a championship in 1983, with runner up finishes in 1982 & 1985.  He was later head coach at Rutgers-Newark. 

William Finkle 

Another standout for the Scarlet Raiders was William Finkle who took back to back 3rd place finishes at the Metropolitan Tournament in 1987 & 1988 before winning a title his senior season of 1989. He later coached wrestling at both the high school and collegiate level. 

Ronald Jones 

A member of the football team at Manchester Regional High School, Jones didn't think he was strong enough & wanted something that was going to make him a better football player. Someone suggested wrestling. Struggling with the sport at first, it wasn't long before Jones was winning both county and district titles.  Competing for the Scarlet Raiders, Jones won back to back Metropolitan titles as well as back to back Northeast Regional titles. Post his wrestling career, Jones worked in cable television. 

Jeff Karlin 

Overall, Karlin won 55 matches for the Scarlet Raiders during his four year wrestling career. As a freshman in 1966 he finished 2nd at the Metropolitan tournament. As a sophomore in 1967 he was 3rd in the District, winning a District title his senior season of 1969. He later became a podiatrist. 

Ed Kasbarian 

Kasbarian was an NAIA All American his junior season of 1963 taking 6th place honors. He took 1964 off, coming back in 1965 to what looked like would be another All American season. He was 10-0, when he suffered a career ending injury that kept him out of the post-season. Kasbarian later became an accountant. 

Michell Kross 

Kross put together a 67-17 career record for the Scarlet Raiders, winning three Metropolitan titles. Also one to get it done in the classroom, he made the Dean's list every semester. He later coached baseball, basketball and soccer. 

Joseph Macula 

Macula went 87-10 during his career winning three District titles for the Scarlet Raiders. 

Larry McClure 

Wrestling for the Scarlet Raiders from 1964-1967, McClure put together 32 victories, 25 of them by fall. He went 2nd-2nd-3rd-3rd at the Metropolitan tournament. Later in life McClure became a prosecutor. 

Mike Oropollo 

We've had a few naturals in the sport of wrestling, but the story of Mike Oropollo might outdo them all. Oropolla came to Rutgers-Newark to play baseball. All conference as a catcher, he had a batting average of .360.  It was during gym class when he was approached about joining the wrestling team. A few practices later he was wrestling in his first match, and I'll be if he didn't win it.  It was an upset over the #1 seed at the Metropolitian tournament that led the Scarlet Raiders to their first ever Metropolitan team title. 

Ed Reilly 

Going 67-29 during his career, Reilly won a Metropolitan title in 1985 as a junior, taking 3rd place honors his senior season of 1986. He later became treasurer of Providence Bank.