Nick Suriano in BEAST MODE today!!!

[James Toney]

Absolutely love Suriano and so glad he is in a PSU singlet. Actually talked to him and his Dad a few years ago for a bit after a match he had. He is a beast and is going to be tough for anyone he wrestles. But at this point, it is silly IMHO to say he is second best to Gilman. There is a lot of wrestling to do yet.

That said I believe he takes his first loss(close) January 8 at Nebraska from Tim Lambert. I was at the Nebraska match last year, and Lambert gave Mega a great match from what I remember. I remember being nervous thinking Nico might lose, forget the score but it was competitive. Looking at a few of his results this year, did not check all of his thus far, he majored Zack Fuentes 12-1 for one. Suriano only beat him 4-2 and I watched that match a few times. Sure I know maybe it means nothing, but I think Lambert being a 5th year senior might be a bit too experienced for the true freshman Suriano?

I hope I am wrong, and maybe Suriano can get more TD scoring opportunities with a guy like Lambert who opens up more and actually wants to be offensive, unlike Schram and Cruz who did next to nothing.

Definitely think CP is just trying to jinx him with all this praise and hype like he did to Gulibon making him preseason number one last year

 

[nitlion6]

Nick despite being a true freshman already is strong as a horse with great positioning hand fighting and defensive skills. He is way above good at getting out from underneath and he can ride with a certain amount of tenacity. As his offensive skill set develops he is going to become more and more difficult for most college kids to deal with. He may lose a match this year, but as long as he is healthy I doubt very much that initial loss is going to come on January 8th at Nebraska.

 

[slushhead]

Absolutely love Suriano and so glad he is in a PSU singlet. Actually talked to him and his Dad a few years ago for a bit after a match he had. He is a beast and is going to be tough for anyone he wrestles. But at this point, it is silly IMHO to say he is second best to Gilman. There is a lot of wrestling to do yet.

That said I believe he takes his first loss(close) January 8 at Nebraska from Tim Lambert. I was at the Nebraska match last year, and Lambert gave Mega a great match from what I remember. I remember being nervous thinking Nico might lose, forget the score but it was competitive. Looking at a few of his results this year, did not check all of his thus far, he majored Zack Fuentes 12-1 for one. Suriano only beat him 4-2 and I watched that match a few times. Sure I know maybe it means nothing, but I think Lambert being a 5th year senior might be a bit too experienced for the true freshman Suriano?

I hope I am wrong, and maybe Suriano can get more TD scoring opportunities with a guy like Lambert who opens up more and actually wants to be offensive, unlike Schram and Cruz who did next to nothing.

Definitely think CP is just trying to jinx him with all this praise and hype like he did to Gulibon making him preseason number one last year

There were times last season that I felt Mega was not himself -- I think he expressed that concern a couple of times, too. While Lambert has shown signs of breaking into the upper echelon throughout his career, he always seems to find a way to come up short by season's end. Unless Suriano gets banged up or ill over the holidays, I feel comfortable saying I'm not worried about how he'll fare against Lambert (even if the latter does have a tendency to peak in January). Suriano is just too solid -- especially upstairs.

 

[El-Jefe]

IIRC Lambert never took Nico down in his career. He did get a reversal in last year's dual.

 

[RoarLions1]

When we talk about Nick, I'm reminded of the story Matt McCutcheon told several weeks ago. It was about the pre-match huddle when they're rubbing the shoulders of the guy being announced. Matt suggested, or stated, that Nick is stiff as a board, super-serious, uber-focused, etc., etc...the antithesis of Jason Nolf (my words). He's in the zone, so to speak. Matt told the story with a smile, laughing a little as he did. My take on it, especially after talking with Mr. Suriano several times now, is that this is who Nick is, and he gets it honestly. Everyone who wrestles young Suriano will know they were in a battle. And frankly speaking, just me, but I don't care about his wins and losses during the season. By the time he (and all our wrestlers) gets to the post-season, they'll be battle-tested, and every win, every loss, every success, and every disappointment, will make them better.

Nick may lose, he might not, odds are good that he will during the regular season, and that will drive him to be better. Here's his schedule; in duals he has #8 Lambert (Neb), #1 Gilman (Iowa), and #10 Rodriguez (tOSU). He could get #9 Piccininni (Ok St), #7 McGhee (Mizz), or #2 Dance (Va Tech) in the Dual Championship Series. At Reno, #5 J. Rodriguez (ND St), #9 Piccininni, #13 Kraisser (Camp), and #17 Oliver (IN) will be there. That's pretty good competition for a true freshman. As I said, by B1G's and NCAA's, he'll be ready...

 

[El-Jefe]

When we talk about Nick, I'm reminded of the story Matt McCutcheon told several weeks ago. It was about the pre-match huddle when they're rubbing the shoulders of the guy being announced. Matt suggested, or stated, that Nick is stiff as a board, super-serious, uber-focused, etc., etc...the antithesis of Jason Nolf (my words). He's in the zone, so to speak. Matt told the story with a smile, laughing a little as he did. My take on it, especially after talking with Mr. Suriano several times now, is that this is who Nick is, and he gets it honestly. Everyone who wrestles young Suriano will know they were in a battle.

So you're saying Nick has intensity and laser focus?

 

[James P. Whitters III]

This has been an enjoyable read to say the least, so I guess I will throw my 2 cents at the fire as well. I was only able to watch Nick Suriano in a very limited capacity while he was in high school. I watched him win and lose to Spencer Lee via video archive and also witnessed the marathon match with Daton Fix. I saw the huge gas tank and solid positioning and an ability to scramble particularly in the Fix match. I had no doubt he was going to be very good very quickly at the college level. I figured him for a 7-8 place type guy as a true Freshman at this point. Some things have changed since imo.

Cael came right out and called him a contender. Cael knows wrestling, so my mind jumped him up to a 5-6 guy simply off of that. I also know Cael is watching him wrestle guys like Nico and Jordan, so he would have a solid feel for where Nick is at. I next watched the Stanford match and noticed he comes forward like a senior not a true freshman. The Cruz match further tells me he won't be easily ridden and he has a leg attack. My mind has jumped him to #3 already.

I have no idea how he will do against Thomas Gilman, but I know Gilman has a work ethic like Nick and is very seasoned. I would guess Gilman will win a 6-3 type of match against Suriano at this point, but Mr. Suriano has announced his arrival and everyone had best take notice. The always quotable Jim Gibbons says "people show up" when referring to guys waiting turn for a title like Gilman is now. Mr. Suriano has shown me enough to know he is going to "show up" as an obstacle in Gilman's coronation. The story continues.

 

[RoarLions1]

To El-Jefe...
Ha...absolutely, completely, entirely, without question, thoroughly, wholly, truly, unequivocally, totally, a hundred percent, YES...that's what I was saying .

 

[Lion-around]

When we talk about Nick, I'm reminded of the story Matt McCutcheon told several weeks ago. It was about the pre-match huddle when they're rubbing the shoulders of the guy being announced. Matt suggested, or stated, that Nick is stiff as a board, super-serious, uber-focused, etc., etc...the antithesis of Jason Nolf (my words). He's in the zone, so to speak. Matt told the story with a smile, laughing a little as he did. My take on it, especially after talking with Mr. Suriano several times now, is that this is who Nick is, and he gets it honestly. Everyone who wrestles young Suriano will know they were in a battle. And frankly speaking, just me, but I don't care about his wins and losses during the season. By the time he (and all our wrestlers) gets to the post-season, they'll be battle-tested, and every win, every loss, every success, and every disappointment, will make them better.

Nick may lose, he might not, odds are good that he will during the regular season, and that will drive him to be better. Here's his schedule; in duals he has #8 Lambert (Neb), #1 Gilman (Iowa), and #10 Rodriguez (tOSU). He could get #9 Piccininni (Ok St), #7 McGhee (Mizz), or #2 Dance (Va Tech) in the Dual Championship Series. At Reno, #5 J. Rodriguez (ND St), #9 Piccininni, #13 Kraisser (Camp), and #17 Oliver (IN) will be there. That's pretty good competition for a true freshman. As I said, by B1G's and NCAA's, he'll be ready...

I noticed at the Lehigh dual, that once Nick was introduced he left the platform immediately. It may have been because he was the first man up but I suspect it was more in line with his pre-match focus routine. Nick will be a challenge for any wrestler in this weight class.

 

[NittanyLion84]

So you're saying Nick has intensity and laser focus?

Okay guys, I fear we are going down a very dangerous path.
If we're not careful, before you know it, we will end up in Tom Brand Hamster Dance territory, with our amazing true freshman.

 

[ZepGraffiti]

This has been an enjoyable read to say the least, so I guess I will throw my 2 cents at the fire as well. I was only able to watch Nick Suriano in a very limited capacity while he was in high school. I watched him win and lose to Spencer Lee via video archive and also witnessed the marathon match with Daton Fix. I saw the huge gas tank and solid positioning and an ability to scramble particularly in the Fix match. I had no doubt he was going to be very good very quickly at the college level. I figured him for a 7-8 place type guy as a true Freshman at this point. Some things have changed since imo.

Cael came right out and called him a contender. Cael knows wrestling, so my mind jumped him up to a 5-6 guy simply off of that. I also know Cael is watching him wrestle guys like Nico and Jordan, so he would have a solid feel for where Nick is at. I next watched the Stanford match and noticed he comes forward like a senior not a true freshman. The Cruz match further tells me he won't be easily ridden and he has a leg attack. My mind has jumped him to #3 already.

I have no idea how he will do against Thomas Gilman, but I know Gilman has a work ethic like Nick and is very seasoned. I would guess Gilman will win a 6-3 type of match against Suriano at this point, but Mr. Suriano has announced his arrival and everyone had best take notice. The always quotable Jim Gibbons says "people show up" when referring to guys waiting turn for a title like Gilman is now. Mr. Suriano has shown me enough to know he is going to "show up" as an obstacle in Gilman's coronation. The story continues.

Looking forward to the Gilman/Suriano bout. Starting with the pre-match intros. Antics?

 

[purescurve]

Okay guys, I fear we are going down a very dangerous path.
If we're not careful, before you know it, we will end up in Tom Brand Hamster Dance territory, with our amazing true freshman.

I really don't see a problem developing with our little guy. Cael will notice the behavior early and just stand up and start walking toward him-I have seen it happen..

 

[PSUAllTheWay]

Looking forward to the Gilman/Suriano bout. Starting with the pre-match intros. Antics?

Gilman will run over and try to mess with the PSU team during intros. Suriano will assume a football lineman's stance and drive Gilman into the third row of spectators ...

 

[El-Jefe]

Gilman will run over and try to mess with the PSU team during intros.

That'll be the end of Gilman.

 

[nitlion6]

The caption for that picture needs to be...

The Nolf post feeding

 

[Riding Time]

I'm singing Duran Duran's "Hungry Like The Nolf".