Rutgers Wrestling pushes No.1 Penn State in 25-15 loss
Bobby Deren • ScarletNation.com
@BobbyDeren
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers started off strong against Penn State and put in a solid effort in against the No.1-ranked team in the country. The Scarlet Knights held the lead for more than halfway through the dual meet, but wound up on the losing end of a 25-15 loss.
The Penn State lineup featured four No.1-ranked wrestlers and a trio of others who had a national ranking no lower than No.8.
“We wrestled really, really hard. That is all I ask of these guys,” head coach Scott Goodale said. “I am super, super proud of them. We don’t ever like to lose. I am not into moral victories. We knew we were up against it. It’s a great team, an all-time team. But we wrestled really, really hard. We brought the fight.”
Rutgers sophomore Nick Suriano got things going at 125 pounds with a pinfall in the third period after dominating Devin Schnupp throughout the match. Suriano wrestled for Penn State last year before transferring to Rutgers and talked about the emotions involved in today's match.
“I felt it a little bit, but it was the same preparation. To me, it was another wrestling match. So I revved it up and made sure I did what I had to do, get the fall. I was looking for the fall.”
Things took an interesting turn at 157 pounds when John Van Brill was matching No.1-ranked Jason Nolf pretty much point for point. The two were tangled up in the second period with Nolf holding a 5-4 lead. But action was suddenly stopped because of an injury and Nolf could not continue. That gave Van Brill a six-point win by default.
“It’s tough to see that,” Suriano said of the injury. “I went through it. I broke my ankle right on the mat and had my whole season stripped [last year]. That is how this whole dilemma began, so I feel for him.”
Penn State lost a point because of an unsportsmanlike conduct called on the PSU bench after the Nolf injury.
That made the score 15-6 at the intermission.
Any chance for a Rutgers’ upset bid hinged on a Richie Lewis upset of No.1-ranked Vincenzo Joseph at 165 pounds. Lewis gave Joseph all he could handle and was a takedown shy of victory . Lewis' last few attempts came in the waning seconds of a 5-4 loss.
A similar match occurred at 184 pounds when No.12-ranked Nick Gravina spent the final seconds scrambling for a takedown against No.1-ranked Bo Nickal. But Gravina would also fall just short, losing by a final of 6-5.
“They are close, but we have to beat those guys,” Goodale said Lewis and Gravina. “I know that’s the way they are thinking. I know what Richie’s thinking and maybe he has to beat them one time in March. But the bottom line is we have to beat those guys. We are going to have to beat Bo Nickal for Nick Gravina to be an All-American, a national champ. Richie is going to have to beat Vincenzo Joseph. Those are just the matches we are going to have to win.”
The dual meet took place in front of a sold-out crowd of 8,316 fans inside The RAC.
“It’s good for Rutgers wrestling,” Goodale said. “This was our vision. I hope our New Jersey fans leave here saying 'I am excited. I need to come back.' This thing is going to get bigger and better, there is no question about it. These next couple of months are going to be very exciting.”
Bobby Deren • ScarletNation.com
@BobbyDeren
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers started off strong against Penn State and put in a solid effort in against the No.1-ranked team in the country. The Scarlet Knights held the lead for more than halfway through the dual meet, but wound up on the losing end of a 25-15 loss.
The Penn State lineup featured four No.1-ranked wrestlers and a trio of others who had a national ranking no lower than No.8.
“We wrestled really, really hard. That is all I ask of these guys,” head coach Scott Goodale said. “I am super, super proud of them. We don’t ever like to lose. I am not into moral victories. We knew we were up against it. It’s a great team, an all-time team. But we wrestled really, really hard. We brought the fight.”
Rutgers sophomore Nick Suriano got things going at 125 pounds with a pinfall in the third period after dominating Devin Schnupp throughout the match. Suriano wrestled for Penn State last year before transferring to Rutgers and talked about the emotions involved in today's match.
“I felt it a little bit, but it was the same preparation. To me, it was another wrestling match. So I revved it up and made sure I did what I had to do, get the fall. I was looking for the fall.”
Things took an interesting turn at 157 pounds when John Van Brill was matching No.1-ranked Jason Nolf pretty much point for point. The two were tangled up in the second period with Nolf holding a 5-4 lead. But action was suddenly stopped because of an injury and Nolf could not continue. That gave Van Brill a six-point win by default.
“It’s tough to see that,” Suriano said of the injury. “I went through it. I broke my ankle right on the mat and had my whole season stripped [last year]. That is how this whole dilemma began, so I feel for him.”
Penn State lost a point because of an unsportsmanlike conduct called on the PSU bench after the Nolf injury.
That made the score 15-6 at the intermission.
Any chance for a Rutgers’ upset bid hinged on a Richie Lewis upset of No.1-ranked Vincenzo Joseph at 165 pounds. Lewis gave Joseph all he could handle and was a takedown shy of victory . Lewis' last few attempts came in the waning seconds of a 5-4 loss.
A similar match occurred at 184 pounds when No.12-ranked Nick Gravina spent the final seconds scrambling for a takedown against No.1-ranked Bo Nickal. But Gravina would also fall just short, losing by a final of 6-5.
“They are close, but we have to beat those guys,” Goodale said Lewis and Gravina. “I know that’s the way they are thinking. I know what Richie’s thinking and maybe he has to beat them one time in March. But the bottom line is we have to beat those guys. We are going to have to beat Bo Nickal for Nick Gravina to be an All-American, a national champ. Richie is going to have to beat Vincenzo Joseph. Those are just the matches we are going to have to win.”
The dual meet took place in front of a sold-out crowd of 8,316 fans inside The RAC.
“It’s good for Rutgers wrestling,” Goodale said. “This was our vision. I hope our New Jersey fans leave here saying 'I am excited. I need to come back.' This thing is going to get bigger and better, there is no question about it. These next couple of months are going to be very exciting.”
