So where do you think Suriano fits in?

[LemonPie]

*Assuming Youtsey (Micic), Moisey, and one of Tomasello or Dance to 133.

Here's how the rankings might look going into the year.

125
1. Gilman
2. NATO/Dance
3. Peters
4. Millhof
5. Schram
6. McGhee
7. Cruz
8. Micic
9. Bresser
10. Lambert
11. Piccinnini
12. J. Rodriguez
13. Lizak
14. Macri
15. A. Rodriguez
16. Russell
17. Fausz
18. Jeske
19. Oliver
20. Templeman

 

[nitlion6]

Not sure.
When Nico was coming I had seen the kid wrestle a fair number of matches and had a strong idea what we were getting. A friend ask me what that was. My answer. A smaller Metcalf. A kid who will always be in your face, always ready to wrestle, able to wrestle to the death and be the guy who at the end of that match will be the one standing looking like he is ready to wrestle the next round now. No quit and always just tougher.
I really think I nailed that one.

I have not seen Suriano wrestle enough to tell for sure.
My guess is he will start the season beating guys in the top 15 to top 20 range and wrestling competitively with guys outside top 5.
With the way people develop in that room I believe by the end of the year he will be good enough to AA and who knows how high?

 

[T J]

Might be another case like we a saw with Bo. They start the new guy at some lower ranking and then he has to work his way up the ladder based upon performance.

If he's winning, he's probably climbing. Wins over top ten guys move him more quickly.

 

[pish69]

Being from NJ. I've seen him wrestle a ton. Tough as nails. Huge will to win. Phenomenal defensively and will dominate offensively except agains the very elite, then he will play it close to the vest and his defense wins out.

I can definitely see him AA next year and will
Be in match with anyone.

Body wise. I can't imagine a more powerfully built 125 pounder. No body fat all muscle. Kind of reminds me of Gilman body type

 

[NittanyChris]

It's irrelevant where he'll be ranked, they never rank true freshman highly. The question is where his talent will land him by the end of the season. Could definitely see him winding up anywhere from 3 to 7.

 

[Real-Lion]

It's irrelevant where he'll be ranked, they never rank true freshman highly. The question is where his talent will land him by the end of the season. Could definitely see him windin up anywhere from 3 to 7.

He will be wrestling Nico and Cortez everyday too. He is going to be a great one if he is preparing now !

 

[Flying_Tiger]

Agree Chris, definitely the potential to AA in that range right out of the gate. Can't see him beating Gilman or Nato. Dance will be tuff as well but he is not as consistent as the other two.

 

[LemonPie]

By the middle of the season, I think it's looking like:

Suriano 10-15 range
Cortez 4-10
Gulibon 10-15
Retherford 1
Nolf 1-2
Joseph 3-10
Nickal- 1-3
Cutch/Rasheed 7-12
Cassar- 8-16
Nevills- 5-12

 

[Law-Deezie]

He has the ability to AA as a true freshman...reminds me of Anthony Ashnault of Rutgers type of ability...

 

[pish69]

Unless he gets hurt I can't imagine him not AAing. To Me its just a matter of if he can crack that top 4 range or bottom 8. But no way will 8 kids be better than Nick by end of year.

 

[Abro1975]

He'll be ranked 8-10 by Jan 1, 2017

 

[21Guns]

There are not 8 125 pounders in the nation who can beat Nick Suriano.

There are 3: Gilman, Dance, and Peters: That's it.

NaTo is now a 133 pounder.

 

[mcruny42]

I asked previously but not sure the answer. Has he wrestled any of the top 10 or so 125 lbers before?

 

[RandyL]

That guy Sanderson said "...we believe he's going to be a great college wrestler and he's going to be great right away."

quote from highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article

 

[21Guns]

That guy Sanderson said "...we believe he's going to be a great college wrestler and he's going to be great right away."

quote from highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article

I'll go with what that guy said.

He seems to know more than anyone else.

 

[matter7172]

I saw Suriano wrestle in person a bunch of times this year. His loss to Arujau at the Journeyman's Classic was a result of getting reversed very late in the match. Very, very solid in all positions and very difficult to score against from neutral (ask Daton Fix, or anyone else, really). He is also very physically developed, so I don't see him getting pushed around from a strength perspective. I'd look for him to knocking at the top 4 door next year.

 

[BruceK-PSU83]

I saw Suriano wrestle in person a bunch of times this year. His loss to Arujau at the Journeyman's Classic was a result of getting reversed very late in the match. Very, very solid in all positions and very difficult to score against from neutral (ask Daton Fix, or anyone else, really). He is also very physically developed, so I don't see him getting pushed around from a strength perspective. I'd look for him to knocking at the top 4 door next year.

Based on the few matches I've seen of Suriano in his senior season, I would agree. Physically, he looks college ready right now. Like you say, very difficult to score against. Not as sure about his offensive arsenal or his mat wrestling, but he is clearly a tough competitor. Also, from a couple interviews, he also seems very motivated and driven. Don't see him immediately contending against the very top guys at 125, but could be in the mix for low AA by the end of his first year.

 

[dunkej01]

Motivation wise, Suriano reminds me of Nico.

Will be interesting to see how suriano reacts when he loses for the first time. Does he get right back on the horse or does it take time.

Nico handled it well as we saw and made a run to the finals getting revenge along the way. Will be lots of posts comparing the two. Fair or unfair they will occur.

Zains didnt happen till the tournament and he did ok

Morgan was undersized but struggled for the team, but still became a 3x AA in the end.

Q struggled but made a run his FR year to AA

If recent history with this team and staff is anything we should be ok, but I will be flexible with expectations and tempered with my keyboard critique.

 

[nyc10007]

To my mind, he's another NATO, in the sense of being college-ready physically, with a gas tank and the in-your-face pressure. He may have his hands full with the top top guys, like Gillman and NATO, but otherwise, I would expect him to be right there.

 

[matter7172]

Will be interesting to see how suriano reacts when he loses for the first time. Does he get right back on the horse or does it take time.

I think that question was answered this year. After taking a good amount of time away from competition, he lost in the Journeyman's Classic finals to Vitali Arujau from LI, NY (Cornell recruit and #2 at 132 on Intermat (behind Chad Red and ahead of #3 Nick Lee)) on the aforementioned late reversal. He came back to win every match this year and reversed the Journeyman's loss at Who's #1. I think he'll be fine.

 

[Annieat285]

I think that question was answered this year. After taking a good amount of time away from competition, he lost in the Journeyman's Classic finals to Vitali Arujau from LI, NY (Cornell recruit and #2 at 132 on Intermat (behind Chad Red and ahead of #3 Nick Lee)) on the aforementioned late reversal. He came back to win every match this year and reversed the Journeyman's loss at Who's #1. I think he'll be fine.

Interesting note about this: On the way to the car after the finals at Journeymans I saw Suriano with his coaches sitting on the grass outside the field house. They were telling him, "you need to shoot more." Next time he wrestled was at Super 32 (not WNO) and he came out like a bat out of hell.
As far as his ability on top, Nick has a really nasty arm bar. He's not like Nico who almost always gets nowhere with the move, he really puts so malice into it. The top 3 guys will be really tough to beat next season, but I don't see why Suriano can't beat everyone else come tournament time.

 

[GOLDBANGER]

Well after talking to the Rutgers guys at nationals, they certainly seem to think he is the real deal.

 

[21Guns]

Nick has a great deal in common with Nico. Both are extremely intense competitors, both are very, very hard to score on, both are as tough as they come, and both have unlimited gas tanks.

 

[21Guns]

*Assuming Youtsey (Micic), Moisey, and one of Tomasello or Dance to 133.

Here's how the rankings might look going into the year.

125
1. Gilman
2. NATO/Dance, SCRATCHED, BOTH MOVING UP TO 133.
3. Peters
4. SURIANO
5. Milhof
6. Schram
6. McGhee
7. Cruz
8. Micic
9. Bresser
10. Lambert
11. Piccinnini
12. J. Rodriguez
13. Lizak
14. Macri
15. A. Rodriguez
16. Russell
17. Fausz
18. Jeske
19. Oliver
20. Templeman

 

[21Guns]

1. Gilman
2. Peters
3. Suriano
4. Schram

That's how I see it, shortly after the Scuffle.

 

[dunkej01]

I think that question was answered this year. After taking a good amount of time away from competition, he lost in the Journeyman's Classic finals to Vitali Arujau from LI, NY (Cornell recruit and #2 at 132 on Intermat (behind Chad Red and ahead of #3 Nick Lee)) on the aforementioned late reversal. He came back to win every match this year and reversed the Journeyman's loss at Who's #1. I think he'll be fine.

I would rather set em up.....and have others knock them down.

You beat jefe to the punch! Love it.

 

[smalls103]

21 - why are you so sure NATO will be at 33?

 

[21Guns]

21 - why are you so sure NATO will be at 33?

Real trouble holding the weight this year, eventually going there anyway, and clearly tanked in the loss to Gilman. The feeling was that he was headed there at the end of this year anyway...still not sure, possibly Ryan keeps him there, but I don't know if Pletcher is ready yet.

 

[NJpsuwrestle]

As someone who has seen a ton of Suriano's matches, I think he will be top 5 by the end of the year. College strength already, huge gas tank and very good defensively. Cael and company will improve his offense and he is a hammer on top. Problem in NJ is the refs love to call stalling on top, he will get a lot of riding time in college when the refs let you ride. Here is an article by Nick, good read.

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/h...urney-didn-t-come-without-sacrifice-1.1531127

 

[jrd23psu]

He will be wrestling Nico and Cortez everyday too. He is going to be a great one if he is preparing now !

Correction, he'll be wrestling Cortez and NCAA Champion Nico Megaludis every day.

 

[mn78psu83]

As someone who has seen a ton of Suriano's matches, I think he will be top 5 by the end of the year. College strength already, huge gas tank and very good defensively. Cael and company will improve his offense and he is a hammer on top. Problem in NJ is the refs love to call stalling on top, he will get a lot of riding time in college when the refs let you ride. Here is an article by Nick, good read.

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/h...urney-didn-t-come-without-sacrifice-1.1531127

Thanks for the article. As someone wrote in the comments, " A blueprint to being a champion."

 

[jack66]

By the middle of the season, I think it's looking like:

Suriano 10-15 range
Cortez 4-10
Gulibon 10-15
Retherford 1
Nolf 1-2
Joseph 3-10
Nickal- 1-3
Cutch/Rasheed 7-12
Cassar- 8-16
Nevills- 5-12

My only reservation with your projections is at 197. First of all, Cassar needs enroll before I'm ready to pencil him in. Why he didn't enroll this semester, I don't know, but Cael had said in January that he expected Cassar would be with the team.

Beyond that I think some are seeing is Jr US Open win as more than it was. He wrestled against a field of only 6 wrestlers, none of whom are household names. His finals opponent was high-schooler Jacob Seely, now with Northern Colorado.

I'm sure his experience with the Jr World team was beneficial, but I still go back to 12-6 record as a Freshman. Right now, round of 12 would exceed my expectations.

Hope he proves me wrong.

 

[ejb25]

Just because he is not enrolled, doesn't mean you can't pencil him in. Cael penciled him back in January for Big Tens as a possible HWT and he was not enrolled.

“We have (Anthony) Cassar and (Nick) Nevills,” Sanderson said, “one of those guys will most likely be in our lineup by the Big Tens. They are getting close. We really appreciate the efforts with the guys that we have in there but they are close.”

http://www.centredaily.com/sports/college/penn-state-university/psu-wrestling/article55031760.html

My only reservation with your projections is at 197. First of all, Cassar needs enroll before I'm ready to pencil him in. Why he didn't enroll this semester, I don't know, but Cael had said in January that he expected Cassar would be with the team.

Beyond that I think some are seeing is Jr US Open win as more than it was. He wrestled against a field of only 6 wrestlers, none of whom are household names. His finals opponent was high-schooler Jacob Seely, now with Northern Colorado.

I'm sure his experience with the Jr World team was beneficial, but I still go back to 12-6 record as a Freshman. Right now, round of 12 would exceed my expectations.

Hope he proves me wrong.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

My only reservation with your projections is at 197. First of all, Cassar needs enroll before I'm ready to pencil him in. Why he didn't enroll this semester, I don't know, but Cael had said in January that he expected Cassar would be with the team.

Yes, to wrestle for PSU he would have to be a student. That said, the enrollment issue from this past year is a non-issue. It's Cassar's family's and his business as to why he wasn't enrolled, and CS was aware of the reasons and had no issues with what took place.

 

[LemonPie]

My only reservation with your projections is at 197. First of all, Cassar needs enroll before I'm ready to pencil him in. Why he didn't enroll this semester, I don't know, but Cael had said in January that he expected Cassar would be with the team.

Beyond that I think some are seeing is Jr US Open win as more than it was. He wrestled against a field of only 6 wrestlers, none of whom are household names. His finals opponent was high-schooler Jacob Seely, now with Northern Colorado.

I'm sure his experience with the Jr World team was beneficial, but I still go back to 12-6 record as a Freshman. Right now, round of 12 would exceed my expectations.

Hope he proves me wrong.

R o 12 wrestler Preston Weigel was in the weight class that Cassar won. Now, that may be unfair because Weigel's strength is that he is a beast on top, but I thought I should mention him because, despite that fact, his tournament should tell just how weak 197 is.

 

[Real-Lion]

My only reservation with your projections is at 197. First of all, Cassar needs enroll before I'm ready to pencil him in. Why he didn't enroll this semester, I don't know, but Cael had said in January that he expected Cassar would be with the team.

Beyond that I think some are seeing is Jr US Open win as more than it was. He wrestled against a field of only 6 wrestlers, none of whom are household names. His finals opponent was high-schooler Jacob Seely, now with Northern Colorado.

I'm sure his experience with the Jr World team was beneficial, but I still go back to 12-6 record as a Freshman. Right now, round of 12 would exceed my expectations.

Hope he proves me wrong.

Cassar will be at 197...Don't worry about him....

 

[21Guns]

My understanding, is that Cassar is quite possibly better than anyone might know right now...

 

[JOESTROSSER]

R o 12 wrestler Preston Weigel was in the weight class. Now, that may be unfair because Weigel's strength is that he is a beast on top, but I thought I should mention him because, despite that fact, his tournament should tell just how weak the weight class is.

Just curious as to why no respect for Weigel a top 100 recruit and big 12 champ(beating intermat #13 for the title)?

 

[Niklex316]

There are not 8 125 pounders in the nation who can beat Nick Suriano.

There are 3: Gilman, Dance, and Peters: That's it.

NaTo is now a 133 pounder.

Since when? NaTo may need up at 133 but it won't be next season. Bank that.

 

[21Guns]

Since when? NaTo may need up at 133 but it won't be next season. Bank that.

Fine with me, good luck at 33 then next year against Clark, Richards, Cortez, and everyone else, with whoever you guys want to throw out there, including your incoming kid. You'll need it.