Nick Suriano

Nicholas Suriano (born April 14, 1997) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler. In freestyle, he claimed the '21 Henri Deglane Grand Prix gold medal and qualified for the '20 US Olympic Trials by placing fourth at the US Nationals while taking an Olympic redshirt.[1][2] As a folkstyle wrestler, Suriano is an NCAA champion (runner-up in 2018) and a Big Ten Conference champion out of Rutgers University, and a four-time NJSIAA title holder as a high schooler.[3] As of December 27, 2020, Suriano is the top-ranked 133-pounder and the second-ranked pound-for-pound NCAA wrestler in the country.[4][5]

Nick Suriano

Suriano after the 2018 NCAA championships
Personal information
Full name	Nicholas Suriano
Nationality	American
Born	April 14, 1997 Paramus, New Jersey, U.S
Height	5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Weight	125 lb (57 kg)
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Wrestling
Event(s)	Freestyle and folkstyle
Club	NYCRTC NJRTC
Coached by	Scott Goodale
Medal record Collegiate Wrestling Representing the Rutgers Scarlet Knights NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships 2018 Cleveland 125 lb 2019 Pittsburgh 133 lb Big Ten Championships 2019 Minneapolis 133 lb

Folkstyle career

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.[6]

College

After his legendary run in high school, Suriano committed to Pennsylvania State University to wrestle as a Nittany Lion.[7]

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.[8]

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.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11]

2018-19

Junior: In this season, he moved up a weight class (from 125 to 133 pounds).[12] 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).[13]

2019-20

Olympic Redshirt: Suriano did not compete in college in this year as a result of taking an Olympic redshirt year to compete in freestyle in an attempt to make the US Olympic Team for 2020 (later 2021). Suriano remains to have a year of eligibility to wrestle for the Rutgers.[14]

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.[15][16][17]

2019

In his first freestyle match since arriving to Rutgers University, he faced '19 Pan American Champion and '18 World Championship medalist Joe Colon at the annual event Beat The Streets, on May 6.[18] He downed Colon three points to one in a big upset.[19]

At the prestigious Bill Farrell Memorial, Suriano dropped down to 57 kilograms and went on to defeat former DI All-American and two-time Big 12 Champion from Oklahoma State Eddie Klimara and Dragos Robertson from Canada in the first two matches, via technical fall, before losing to '18 NCAA champion from Wisconsin Seth Gross.[20][21] In the consolation bracket, he defeated former four-time DI All-American and '12 graduate from Minnesota Zach Sanders, '16 US University National champion and two-time DI All-American Zane Richards (technical fall), and two-time US Open National runner-up and '16 NCAA champion Nahshon Garrett, to place third.[22]

Suriano then competed at the US Nationals on December 21-22, where he defeated former DI athlete Shelton Mack and '13 US University National All-American Britain Longmire in the first two matches, before losing in a razor-close match against '19 Junior World Championship runner-up and '19 DI All-American from Cornell Vito Arujau.[23][24][25] In the consolation bracket, he once again defeated Zane Richards and added '17 NCAA champion Darian Cruz to the list by technical fall, before forfeiting in the third-place match against Arujau, to place fourth and qualify for the '20 US Olympic Team Trials.[26][27]

2020

Suriano was scheduled to wrestle at the 2020 US Olympic Team Trials Challenge Tournament on April 4–5 at State College, Pennsylvania.[28] However, the event was postponed along with the 2020 Summer Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[29] Both competitions are now scheduled to take place in 2021.[30][31]

2021

After more than a year of inactiveness in any ruleset and social spectrum,[32] Suriano competed at the Henri Deglane Grand Prix of France on January 16, in his first international tournament overseas.[33] In the quarterfinals, he dominantly shut down '19 European Games and '15 Junior World Champion from Azerbaijan Mahir Amiraslanov, with seven unanswered points.[1] Next, he took out '13 Junior World Championship bronze medalist from Georgia Beja Bujiashvili, four points to one to make the finals, where he outmatched Islam Bazarganov from Azerbaijan, who beat '17 World Championship runner-up from the USA Thomas Gilman in the semifinals, seven points to one, to claim the championship.[34]

Freestyle record

NCAA record

Stats

Awards and honors

2019

• Bill Farrell Memorial International (57 kg)
• BTS: Grapple at the Garden Dual (61 kg)
• NCAA Division I (133 lbs)[35]
• Big Ten Conference (133 lbs)[36]

2018

• NCAA Division I (125 lbs)[37]

References

1. NJ.com, James Kratch | NJ Advance Media for (2021-01-16). "Rutgers' Nick Suriano storms way to gold medal at international tournament, makes Olympic statement". nj. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
2. Kosko, Nick (2019-12-22). "Nick Suriano Officially Qualifies for Olympic Trials". On the Banks. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
3. "Nick Suriano - Wrestling". Rutgers University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
4. "133". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
5. "P4P". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
6. "It's Official: Nick Suriano Is Going To Rutgers". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
7. Lanni, Patrick (2015-08-16). "Wrestling: Bergen Catholic standout Nick Suriano commits to Penn State". nj. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
8. "Nick Suriano found himself after injury and transfer to Rutgers". Team USA. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
9. "Suriano explains why he sought transfer". InterMat. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
10. Kratch, James (2018-03-04). "Suriano medical forfeits in Big Ten wrestling semis". nj. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
11. "2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships Brackets" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
12. Falk, Steven. "Rutgers Wrestling: Nick Suriano moves up to 133 and begins season with a pin". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
13. Cooper, Darren. "Nick Suriano brings Rutgers wrestling its first national title". North Jersey. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
14. Falk, Steven; Cooper, Darren. "Nick Suriano will redshirt Rutgers wrestling season to chase Olympic dream". North Jersey. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
15. "TheKnightReport - Nick Suriano to take on World Medalist at Beat the Streets NY". rutgers.rivals.com. 2019-04-15. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
16. "Nick Suriano fully cleared with sights set on future". ScarletNation.com. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
17. Gallo, Ed (2019-04-01). "Five Class of 2019 Wrestling to MMA Prospects". MMASucka.com. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
18. "Rutgers' NCAA Champion Suriano Added To BTS 'Grapple in the Garden' May 6". NY Sports Day. 2019-04-15. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
19. NJ.com, James Kratch | NJ Advance Media for (2019-05-07). "Rutgers' Nick Suriano stuns world bronze medalist Joe Colon in freestyle return at Beat the Streets". nj. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
20. "USA Wrestling Events". usawrestlingevents.com. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
21. "FloWrestling". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
22. Kosko, Nick (2019-11-17). "Nick Suriano Earns Bronze at Bill Farrell Tournament". On the Banks. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
23. "FloWrestling". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
24. "Lazor upsets Olympian Molinaro at Senior Nationals, freestyle quarterfinals set". InterMat. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
25. "Wrestling's Diakomihalis and Arujau Qualify for Olympic Team Trials". Cornell University Athletics. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
26. NJ.com, James Kratch | NJ Advance Media for (2019-12-22). "Rutgers' Nick Suriano qualifies for 2020 Olympic Team Trials". nj. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
27. "Suriano Qualifies for 2020 Olympic Trials". Rutgers University Athletics. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
28. "Wrestling: Nick Suriano punches ticket to Olympic Trials". North Jersey. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
29. Kratch, James (2020-03-31). "USA Wrestling moves Olympic Trials to 2021 due to coronavirus pandemic | What it means". nj. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
30. CooperBergen, Darren. "With Olympics postponed, wrestler Suriano now focusing on his next move". recordonline.com. Retrieved 2020-04-16.
31. Church, Ben. "Virus expert 'pessimistic' over Tokyo Olympics". CNN. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
32. NJ.com, James Kratch | NJ Advance Media for (2021-01-04). "Will Nick Suriano wrestle for Rutgers in 2021? It's '50-50,' Scott Goodale says". nj. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
33. Eric. "Henri Deglane Grand Prix of France Preliminary Entries". United World Wrestling. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
34. "Snyder, Dake, Diakomihalis and Suriano win gold, four others earn medals at the Henri Deglane Grand Prix". Team USA. January 16, 2021.
35. "2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships Brackets" (PDF).
36. "2019 Big Ten Conference Wrestling Brackets" (PDF).
37. "2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships Brackets" (PDF).

External links

• Nick Suriano at United World Wrestling