Undefeated Bergen Catholic Wrestler Leaves Penn State For Rutgers

PARAMUS, NJ — Nick Suriano, the four-time state champion from Bergen Catholic High School, enrolled at Rutgers University Wednesday after transferring from Penn State, Rutgers announced Wednesday.

The Paramus native enrolled at Penn State after having one of the greatest high school careers in Garden State history. Suriano earned four state championships at Bergen Catholic and finished his high school career a perfect 159-0. Suriano was just the fourth four-time New Jersey state champion all-time and is the only wrestler in state history to match his four individual titles with four team championships.

“New Jersey is my home and it’s what I want to represent,” said Suriano. “I want to make history and bring New Jersey and Rutgers with me. I have all the support and coaching I need right here at this university. This was my decision, and I’m confident in it and the support of the team I have around me.”

Competing at 125 pounds, Suriano finished 16-3 as a true freshman for the Nittany Lions in 2016-17, which included a 12-2 mark in dual action and an 8-1 record in Big Ten duals. Suriano was seeded third at the 2017 NCAA Championships in St. Louis at 125 pounds, but was unable to compete in the tournament due to injury. Two of Suriano’s losses were the result of injury, while his other defeat came against Iowa’s Thomas Gilman, who was the 2017 Big Ten champion and NCAA runner-up in his weight class.

Rutgers (12-5) closed the 2016-17 season tied for 12th in the final USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll, which included a 6-3 finish in Big Ten action and an undefeated 6-0 mark at home. The six conference wins marked the most since the Scarlet Knights joined the conference in 2014.

“We are excited that Nick has decided to come back home and join our program,” head coach Scott Goodale said in a statement Rutgers released. “This is a young man with an incredible work ethic and drive that doesn’t come around all that often."

Suriano will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

"We are beyond excited that Nick is eligible to compete right away," Goodale said. "This is a student-athlete that deserves the opportunity to chase his dream of becoming a national champion in his home state.”

Email daniel.hubbard@patch.com. Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.

Photo: Nick Suriano competing during a match while with Penn State./Courtesy of Penn State Athletics