Nick Suriano
Nicholas Suriano (born April 14, 1997) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler. In freestyle, he qualified for the 2020 US Olympic Trials by placing fourth at the US Nationals while taking an Olympic redshirt.[1] As a folkstyle wrestler, Suriano is an NCAA champion, Big Ten champion and two-time NCAA finalist out of Rutgers University and a four-time NJSIAA title holder as a high schooler.[2] As of August 3, 2020, it is expected that he competes his senior year in 2020-21.[3][4]
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Nicholas Suriano | ||||||||||||||||||||||
National team | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Paramus, New Jersey, U.S | April 14, 1997||||||||||||||||||||||
Residence | New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 57 kg (126 lb) 133 lb (60 kg) (NCAA) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Country | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | Wrestling | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Event(s) | Freestyle and folkstyle | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Club | NYCRTC NJRTC | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Coached by | Scott Goodale | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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High School
Suriano attended Bergen Catholic High School and is one of the most accomplished wrestlers in the history of New Jersey. He accumulated 8 NJSIAA overall state titles, 4 individuals and 4 team championships, being the first NJ wrestler to do so. He also graduated undefeated with a record of 159 victories and no defeats.[5]
University
After his legendary run in high school, Suriano committed to Pennsylvania State University to wrestle as a Nittany Lion.[6]
2016-17
Freshman: Compiled 16 victories and 3 defeats (two of them by injury) with notable wins over that season's NCAA champion and finalist Darian Cruz and Ethan Lizak, that season's B1G runner-up Tim Lambert and eventual NCAA DII runner-up Jose Rodriguez. He was the third seed at the NCAA's, however, he suffered a serious injury (broken ankle) in a dual match against Nick Piccininni and was unable to compete at the Big Ten Conference championships and at the NCAA championships.[7]
2017-18
Sophomore: After his injury, Suriano decided to transfer from PSU to Rutgers University for multiple reasons and started wrestling as a Scarlet Knight.[8] He had a highly successful run as a sophomore, ending the season with 25 wins and a lone loss and compiling notable victories during regular season over eventual three-time All-American Sebastian Rivera (twice) and eventual two-timers Ronnie Bresser and Zeke Moisey. At the Big Ten Championships, he won his first bout, however, he decided to medical forfeit his next matches and was eliminated of the tournament.[9] Entering the NCAA's undefeated, he made his way to the finals by defeating four opponents, including the defending champion Darian Cruz and other two seeded wrestlers. At the finals, he faced the heavily accomplished Spencer Lee, whom he ended up losing to, becoming the runner-up of the tournament.[10]
2018-19
Junior: In this season, he moved up a weight class (from 125 to 133 pounds).[11] He ended the year with a 26-3 record and notable victories in regular season over defending MAC champion John Erneste (eventual two-time MAC champion and All-American) and eventual ACC champion Micky Phillippi. At the Big Ten Conference Championships, he defeated four opponents including future two-time All-Americans Luke Pletcher and Austin DeSanto and future three-timer Ethan Lizak without suffering a loss to become the title holder at his division. At the NCAA championships, he made his way to the finals downing three opponents including the heavily accomplished Stevan Mićić and once again Ethan Lizak. In the finals, he faced the also heavily decorated Daton Fix, whom he outscored 4 points to 2 in the second sudden victory period of the bout to become the champion at 133-pounds, the first in the history of Rutgers (his teammate Anthony Ashnault would become the second later in the tournament).[12]
Freestyle career
Suriano never competed at international freestyle tournaments prior to the Olympic redshirt he took after winning the NCAA Championship in 2019. He has expressed that he isn't interested in freestyle competition as much as he is in mixed martial arts and expects to start a career in the sport after the 2020 Olympics and his last year competing in collegiate wrestling.[14][15][16]
2019
In his first freestyle competition after arriving to Rutgers University, he faced 2019 Pan American Champion Joe Colon at the annual event Beat The Streets. He downed Colon 3 points to 1 in a big upset.[17]
At the prestigious Bill Farrell Memorial, Suriano dropped down to 57 kilograms and went on to beat two opponents by technical fall before losing to 2018 NCAA champion Seth Gross. Suriano beat every opponent he faced at the consolation bracket, placing third.[18]
Suriano then competed at the US Nationals and placed fourth. He lost in the quarterfinals but was able to win every wrestleback in the consolation bracket until the bronze-medal match, in which he forfeited. Due to the result, he qualified for the 20' US Olympic Team Trials.[19]
2020
Suriano was scheduled to wrestle at the 2020 US Olympic Team Trials Challenge Tournament on April 4–5 at State College, Pennsylvania.[20] However, the event was postponed along with the 2020 Summer Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both competitions are now scheduled to take place in 2021.[21][22][23]
Freestyle record
Senior Freestyle Matches | ||||||
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Res. | Record | Opponent | Score | Date | Event | Location |
2019 US Nationals 4th at 57 kg | ||||||
Win | 11-2 | Fall | December 21, 2019 | 2019 Senior Nationals - US Olympic Trials Qualifier |
| |
Win | 10-2 | TF 10-0 | ||||
Win | 9-2 | TF 12-0 | ||||
Loss | 8-2 | 2-2 | ||||
Win | 8-1 | TF 10-0 | ||||
Win | 7-1 | 4-1 | ||||
2019 Bill Farrell | ||||||
Win | 6-1 | 8-1 | November 16, 2019 | 2019 Bill Farrell Memorial International Open |
| |
Win | 5-1 | TF 10-0 | ||||
Win | 4-1 | 6-2 | ||||
Loss | 3-1 | 2-4 | ||||
Win | 3-0 | TF 10-0 | ||||
Win | 2-0 | TF 11-0 | ||||
2019 Beat The Streets | ||||||
Win | 1-0 | 3-1 | May 6, 2019 | 2019 Beat The Streets: Grapple at the Garden |
|
NCAA record
NCAA Championships Matches | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Res. | Record | Opponent | Score | Date | Event | ||
2019 NCAA Championships | |||||||
Win | 9-1 | Daton Fix | SV-2 4-2 | March 23, 2019 | 2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships | ||
Win | 8-1 | Stevan Mićić | 4-1 | ||||
Win | 7-1 | Ethan Lizak | Fall | ||||
Win | 6-1 | Korbin Myers | 7-2 | ||||
Win | 5–1 | Dylan Duncan | MD 12-3 | ||||
2018 NCAA Championships | |||||||
Loss | 4-1 | Spencer Lee | 1-5 | March 17, 2018 | 2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships | ||
Win | 4-0 | Darian Cruz | 2-0 | ||||
Win | 3-0 | Louie Hayes | MD 8-0 | ||||
Win | 2-0 | Zeke Moisey | Fall | ||||
Win | 1–0 | Gerald (J.R.) Wert | TF 17-0 |
Stats
Season | Year | School | Rank | Weigh Class | Record | Win | Bonus |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Junior | Rutgers University | #3 (1st) | 133 | 29-3 | 90.63% | 57.89% |
2018 | Sophomore | #4 (2nd) | 125 | 25-1 | 96.15% | 65.38% | |
2017 | Freshman | Penn State University | #9 (DNQ) | 16-3 | 84.21% | 57.89% | |
Career | 70-7 | 90.91% | 62.34% |
Awards and honors
- 2019
Bill Farrell Memorial International (57 kg) BTS: Grapple at the Garden Dual (61 kg) NCAA Division I (133 lbs)[24] Big Ten Conference (133 lbs)[25]
- 2018
NCAA Division I (125 lbs)[26]
References
- Kosko, Nick (2019-12-22). "Nick Suriano Officially Qualifies for Olympic Trials". On the Banks. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
- "Nick Suriano - Wrestling". Rutgers University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
- "133". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
- "Nick Suriano Re-Enrolls At Rutgers". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
- "It's Official: Nick Suriano Is Going To Rutgers". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
- Lanni, Patrick (2015-08-16). "Wrestling: Bergen Catholic standout Nick Suriano commits to Penn State". nj. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
- "Nick Suriano found himself after injury and transfer to Rutgers". Team USA. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- "Suriano explains why he sought transfer". InterMat. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
- Kratch, James (2018-03-04). "Suriano medical forfeits in Big Ten wrestling semis". nj. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
- "2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships Brackets" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- Falk, Steven. "Rutgers Wrestling: Nick Suriano moves up to 133 and begins season with a pin". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
- Cooper, Darren. "Nick Suriano brings Rutgers wrestling its first national title". North Jersey. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
- Falk, Steven; Cooper, Darren. "Nick Suriano will redshirt Rutgers wrestling season to chase Olympic dream". North Jersey. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
- "TheKnightReport - Nick Suriano to take on World Medalist at Beat the Streets NY". rutgers.rivals.com. 2019-04-15. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
- "Nick Suriano fully cleared with sights set on future". ScarletNation.com. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
- Gallo, Ed (2019-04-01). "Five Class of 2019 Wrestling to MMA Prospects". MMASucka.com. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
- "See the results for the 2019 Beat The Streets wrestling event on FloWrestling.org". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
- "2019 Bill Farrell Memorial International". arena.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
- "Wrestling: Nick Suriano punches ticket to Olympic Trials". North Jersey. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
- "Olympic Team Trials Will Be At Penn State April 4-5, 2020". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
- CooperBergen, Darren. "With Olympics postponed, wrestler Suriano now focusing on his next move". recordonline.com. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
- Kratch, James (2020-03-31). "USA Wrestling moves Olympic Trials to 2021 due to coronavirus pandemic | What it means". nj. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
- Church, Ben. "Virus expert 'pessimistic' over Tokyo Olympics". CNN. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
- "2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships Brackets" (PDF).
- "2019 Big Ten Conference Wrestling Brackets" (PDF).
- "2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships Brackets" (PDF).