New Jersey Standouts Set to Compete at RAF 08
Two New Jersey standouts will take the mat on a major stage later this month, as Anthony Ashnault and Mike VanBrill are scheduled to compete at RAF 08 on April 18 at The Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.
For New Jersey wrestling fans, both matchups feature familiar names representing the state against elite national-level competition.
Ashnault, a South Plainfield High School product and former standout at Rutgers University, is widely regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers in New Jersey history. He became the first four-time undefeated NJSIAA state champion, finishing his high school career with a remarkable 170–0 record. At Rutgers, Ashnault continued to build his legacy as a four-time NCAA All-American, culminating in a national championship in 2019, and he later added two Pan American gold medals at the international level.
He is set to face Real Woods, a three-time NCAA All-American and 2025 World Championships bronze medalist in Zagreb, in what projects to be one of the most technically compelling matchups involving New Jersey representation on the card.
Joining him on the lineup is Clearview’s Mike VanBrill, another Rutgers standout with deep ties to the state’s wrestling scene. VanBrill was a two-time NJSIAA state medalist and two-time Region 8 champion for Clearview Regional High School before continuing his career at Rutgers, where he became a three-time NCAA qualifier and earned Big Ten bronze in 2021 at 149 pounds.
VanBrill will face Jordan Oliver, one of the most accomplished wrestlers of his generation. Oliver is a two-time NCAA Division I national champion, an NCAA finalist, a two-time U.S. freestyle national champion, and an international medalist across multiple events. New Jersey fans may also recognize Oliver from his role coaching at St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale.
About RAF 08
RAF 08 takes place April 18 at 8:00 PM EST at The Liacouras Center in Philadelphia and features a stacked lineup of crossover wrestling and combat-sports talent competing across the card.
The event is headlined by Merab Dvalishvili vs. Henry Cejudo, with a co-main event matchup between Arman Tsarukyan and Urijah Faber. Multiple title bouts are scheduled throughout the card, making it one of the promotion’s most anticipated events to date.
With two New Jersey standouts set to compete against elite opposition, RAF 08 presents another opportunity for the state’s wrestling community to be represented on a national stage.