Sources: Nick Suriano's path from Penn State to Rutgers cleared

Started by TomM, September 04, 2017, 08:16:21 AM

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TomM

Sources: Nick Suriano's path from Penn State to Rutgers cleared | Big Ten grants immediate eligibility waiver
http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2017/09/nick_suriano_penn_state_transfer_rutgers_big_ten.html

By Ryan Dunleavyrdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com,
NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Prolific winner Nick Suriano just scored one of his biggest victories without even taking the wrestling mat.

The Big Ten approved Sunday a waiver request that clears a path for Suriano to transfer from Penn State to Rutgers without having to lose a year of eligibility, sources told NJ Advance Media.

That means the former Bergen Catholic High School star likely is coming home as a sophomore and bringing national championship aspirations with him as he immediately can begin his chase for three NCAA titles.

Once Suriano's enrollment at Rutgers is finalized, it will be a game-changer for Rutgers wrestling and the athletic department, which will be adding one of its top overall athletes.

The 125-pounder would make his Rutgers debut against Maryland in a suddenly hotter ticket at Yankee Stadium on Nov. 4 as part of a doubleheader with the schools' football teams.

Without the waiver, it was no sure thing that Suriano would have landed at Rutgers, with suitors across the national landscape. But the start of the school year is just days away at Rutgers.

Penn State granted Suriano a scholarship release to transfer to Rutgers, but Big Ten rules require in-conference transfers to sit one year and lose a year of eligibility. Exceptions have been made for extenuating circumstances in the past.

It took more than three weeks for the Big Ten Academics and Eligibility subcommittee to rule on Suriano, whose waiver was submitted after sources told NJ Advance Media that Penn State officials refused a closed-doors request for an amicable split.


Rutgers wrestling opens season at Yankee Stadium
Rutgers wrestling opens season at Yankee Stadium
The "Big Ten Battle in the Bronx'' will pit both the Rutgers and Maryland football and wrestling teams inside iconic Yankee Stadium in November 2017.
An inquiry from NJ Advance Media as to whether Penn State officials declined to put support the waiver request and why was returned with a general school-issued statement that didn't answer either question.

The contentious situation will make for an exciting backdrop when Penn State visits Rutgers on Jan. 28, 2018. A record-setting crowdfilled Rutgers Athletics Center for the dual in 2015.

The Big Ten did not respond to multiple inquiries in August as to the general workings of the waiver process, but the committee is made up of representatives from various positions all the way up to athletic directors and does not feature representation from either school involved in a specific case. according to sources. A majority vote rules.

If Suriano sought a transfer outside of the Big Ten, it would've been much cleaner, without the threat of sitting out or losing a year of eligibility. The NCAA only requires an out-of-conference transfer one-year sit-out rule in football, men's and women's basketball and baseball.

The exact nature of Suriano's extenuating circumstances is unknown, though his promising true freshman year (17-1 start) at Penn State went awry when he suffered an ankle injury in the final dual meet of the season. Despite reports of coach Cael Sanderson's optimism that Suriano would return quickly, he missed the Big Ten Championships and NCAA Championships.

While still enrolled in online summer classes at Penn State, Suriano spent most of his summer training with the independent Scarlet Knights Wrestling Club on Rutgers campus.

Ranked as high as No. 2 nationally behind Iowa's then-senior Thomas Gilman, Suriano will enter the 2017-18 season as no worse than a co-favorite to win the national title at 125 pounds, along with defending champion Darian Cruz of Lehigh whom he already has beaten.

Rutgers has never had a wrestler finish higher than third at the national tournament (Mike Leta, 1960) -- a feat that 141-pounder Anthony Ashnault nearly matched with fourth in 2016.

Like Suriano, Ashnault, a three-time All-American, is a realistic 2018 national title contender as a redshirt senior.

Suriano and Ashnault are the only undefeated four-time NJSIAA champions in New Jersey high school wrestling history. Now they are on the verge of becoming Rutgers teammates.

Suriano considered Rutgers as a recruit but ultimately joined Penn State, where he was part of the team's sixth national title in a seven-year span. With five returning individual national champions, Penn State is well-suited to survive Suriano's departure.

Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.
Seek excellence and truth instead of fame -John Prime
Courage is grace under pressure - Ernest Hemingway
Advocating "matside weigh-in" since 1997
"That's why they wrestle the matches"

TomM

Seek excellence and truth instead of fame -John Prime
Courage is grace under pressure - Ernest Hemingway
Advocating "matside weigh-in" since 1997
"That's why they wrestle the matches"

TomM

RUTGERS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
1 Scarlet Knight Way | High Point Solutions Stadium, Suite A | Piscataway, NJ 08854
O: 732-445-7028 • F: 732-445-8899 • www.scarletknights.com • @RUAthletics

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Bradly Derechailo (office: 732-647-5034; e-mail: bd219@scarletknights.com)

Nick Suriano Enrolls at Rutgers
125-pounder immediately eligible for 2017-2018 season

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Sept. 6, 2017) – Nick Suriano, who competed last season at Penn State, has enrolled at Rutgers University as a transfer student. Suriano is immediately eligible to participate in 2017-18 for Rutgers wrestling, and will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.
"We are excited that Nick has decided to come back home and join our program," said head coach Scott Goodale. "This is a young man with an incredible work ethic and drive that doesn't come around all that often. We are beyond excited that Nick is eligible to compete right away. This is a student-athlete that deserves the opportunity to chase his dream of becoming a national champion in his home state."
"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.
The Paramus, New Jersey, native enrolled at PSU after he produced one of the greatest high school careers in Garden State history. Suriano earned four NJSIAA State Championships at Bergen Catholic and finished his scholastic 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.
Rutgers (12-5) closed the 2016-17 dual 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.

Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers wrestling, follow the program on Twitter (@RUWrestling) and Instagram (@RUWrestling). Fans can receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on our social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.
Seek excellence and truth instead of fame -John Prime
Courage is grace under pressure - Ernest Hemingway
Advocating "matside weigh-in" since 1997
"That's why they wrestle the matches"

bigoil

What extenuating circumstances would the B10 use to allow him to be eligible within the B10 immediately? The rules are crystal clear and it seems you make one exception, there is a can of worms across all sports.

TomM

Seek excellence and truth instead of fame -John Prime
Courage is grace under pressure - Ernest Hemingway
Advocating "matside weigh-in" since 1997
"That's why they wrestle the matches"

imwi


Barou

Quote from: bigoil on September 06, 2017, 12:55:04 PM
What extenuating circumstances would the B10 use to allow him to be eligible within the B10 immediately? The rules are crystal clear and it seems you make one exception, there is a can of worms across all sports.

One speculation I heard was that PSU mismanaged his injury last year.  It was also reported that the Big Ten asked PSU representatives to meet for an amicable resolution and they declined. 

Good for the student athlete.
JHI Mafia

bigoil

Quote from: Barou on September 06, 2017, 03:12:34 PM
Quote from: bigoil on September 06, 2017, 12:55:04 PM
What extenuating circumstances would the B10 use to allow him to be eligible within the B10 immediately? The rules are crystal clear and it seems you make one exception, there is a can of worms across all sports.

One speculation I heard was that PSU mismanaged his injury last year.  It was also reported that the Big Ten asked PSU representatives to meet for an amicable resolution and they declined. 

Good for the student athlete.

Might be good for the athlete but if you think every athlete that leaves doesn't have a "dog" issue....., hard to tell them apart and not many are granted a release within the B10.

TomM

Seek excellence and truth instead of fame -John Prime
Courage is grace under pressure - Ernest Hemingway
Advocating "matside weigh-in" since 1997
"That's why they wrestle the matches"

TomM

Quote from: bigoil on September 06, 2017, 12:55:04 PM
What extenuating circumstances would the B10 use to allow him to be eligible within the B10 immediately? The rules are crystal clear and it seems you make one exception, there is a can of worms across all sports.

Badgers volleyball: Big Ten waiver allows Michigan transfer Tiffany Clark to play immediately

http://host.madison.com/wsj/sports/college/volleyball/badgers-volleyball-big-ten-waiver-allows-michigan-transfer-tiffany-clark/article_b163bdc3-d855-5886-a268-00eab0d7a3a1.html
Seek excellence and truth instead of fame -John Prime
Courage is grace under pressure - Ernest Hemingway
Advocating "matside weigh-in" since 1997
"That's why they wrestle the matches"

Barou

Quote from: TomM on September 07, 2017, 10:10:36 AM
Quote from: bigoil on September 06, 2017, 12:55:04 PM
What extenuating circumstances would the B10 use to allow him to be eligible within the B10 immediately? The rules are crystal clear and it seems you make one exception, there is a can of worms across all sports.

Badgers volleyball: Big Ten waiver allows Michigan transfer Tiffany Clark to play immediately

http://host.madison.com/wsj/sports/college/volleyball/badgers-volleyball-big-ten-waiver-allows-michigan-transfer-tiffany-clark/article_b163bdc3-d855-5886-a268-00eab0d7a3a1.html

Uh oh, the madness is starting.  "Precedence" is now set.....lol.

Just kidding by the way.  It's not like the Big 10 is just handing out in-conference transfers and eligibility.  Eventually, we might find out what "extenuating circumstances" contributed to the waiver for Suriano.  PSU either didn't oppose the waiver or conceded they were wrong in some way by not agreeing to an all-parties meeting. 
JHI Mafia