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A look at the top grapplers at 170 pounds-and-up Stephen Edelson

 


PISCATAWAY -  Nick Suriano gave the sold out crowd at the Rutgers Athletic Center what they wanted Sunday afternoon when Rutgers University wrestled No. 1 ranked nationally and two-time defending national champion Penn State.

Suriano, Rutgers' redshirt sophomore 125-pounder who transferred to Rutgers from Penn State last summer in a situation that became a bit contentious, pinned Penn State's Devin Schnupp with 19.3 seconds left in the bout.

Penn State went on win the match 25-15 by winning the final five bouts. 

The crowd exploded when the referee slapped the mat to signal the pin. Suriano received a standing ovation when he left the mat. 

Suriano, who moved up to the No. 1 spot in the 125-pound national rankings this week to become the first Rutgers wrestler yo be ranked No. 1 nationally, recorded nine takedowns against Schnupp (1-13) - , his replacement in the Penn State lineup - before he pinned him after he had him on his back for an extended time. Suriano led 19-7 at the time of the fall.

The former Bergen Catholic High School star, who was a four-time NJSIAA champion and went 159-0 during his scholastic career from 2013-16,  has an excellent chance to become Rutgers' first-ever national champion when the NCAA Championships are held in Cleveland, March 15-19.

Suriano's freshman season at Penn State ended when he sustained an ankle injury in late February of 2017 that prevented him from wrestling in the Big Ten and NCAA championships.  He was 16-1 before the injury and defeated eventual national champion Darian Cruz of Lehigh during the season.

The pin gave Rutgers an early 6-0 lead. Rutgers' Scott DelVecchio (133) followed with a 6-2 win over Corey Keener to make it 9-0 Rutgers.

Rutgers led for most of the match, with an injury default by defending national champion Jason Nolf (157) playing a major role in that. Penn State took its first lead at 17-15 when Bo Nickal (184), the last of five consecutive defending national champions, held off Nick Gravina 6-5.

A major decision by Anthony Cassar (197), a state champion when he was at Montgomery High School, made it 21-15 Penn State. A  win by major decision by heavyweight Nick Nevelis closed it out.  

Gravina, who trailed 5-1 in the second period, recorded a takedown in the second period, was close to a tying takedown at the left edge of the mat in the final 30 seconds. He got a stalling point when Nickal was penalized for stalling a second time to make it 6-5.

The performance by Gravina was typical of how tough Rutgers wrestled. The Scarlet Knights recorded takedowns against two national champions, got a stalling point on another lost two one-point decisions to two of them.  

Penn State closed to within 9-6 on a win by Nick Lee (141) and a major decision by defending national champion Zain Retherford (149) before a development that may significantly determine whether Penn State can win a third consecutive national championship and a seventh in eight seasons. 

Nolf, the defending national champion at 157 pounds and the second of Penn State's "Murderers Row'' of five consecutive defending national champions from 149-184, had to injury default to Rutgers' John Van Brill

Nolf was leading 5-4 in the second period of a bout filled with scrambles when he had to take injury time and then defaulted. Nolf was severely limping, had trouble putting weight on his leg and had to be assisted off by Penn State coach Cael Sanderson and others to a standing ovation from the crowd.  VanBrill had actually gotten the first takedown in the bout.

The injury default made it 15-6 (Penn State had been deducted a team point previously for bench  unsportsmanlike-conduct).

But, more importantly, if Nolf is seriously injured, Ohio State, ranked No. 2 nationally and with a deep and balanced lineup, might now be the favorite to win the national championship and win its second national championship in four years.  Penn State does host Ohio State this Saturday night.

Penn State pulled within 15-9 when defending national champion Vincenzo Joseph (165) edged Richie Lewis 5-4 in an entertaining bout. Joseph recorded the only two takedowns of the bout. But, Lewis was close to throwing him once and close to a couple of takedowns.

A win by technical fall by defending national champion Mark Hall (174) in which he put on a takedown clinic made it 15-14 Rutgers with three bouts remaining. 

There was a contentious moment in this bout when Rutgers' Joe Grello momentarily had Hall on his back. But, the official only swiped once which does not constitute back points. Rutgers coach Scott Goodale challenged the call, but the original call stood