PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 2
Anthony Ashnault (149) and No. 15
John Van Brill (157) secured individual victories as No. 24 Rutgers wrestling (7-3, 1-1) dropped a 26-5 matchup to No. 3 Oklahoma State (7-0, 4-0) on Sunday afternoon in front of 7,545 fans at the RAC.
Ashnault remained undefeated on the season at 15-0 courtesy of his 10-7 decision over No. 6 Kaden Gfeller, his fourth win over a ranked foe and third over a top-10 opponent. For Van Brill, it marked his second win of the weekend after he collected a 6-0 decision in his match against Wisconsin this past Friday.
Those in attendance witnessed one of the most anticipated individual matchups of the 2018-19 season, as No. 2
Nick Suriano (133) squared off with undefeated No. 6 Daton Fix. Including reviews, the match lasted 31 minutes, with Fix earning a 3-2 decision after Suriano was called for hands to the face in the fourth tie-breaker period.
Suriano vs. Fix: How it Happened
• After a scoreless first period, Suriano and Fix each worked escapes, forcing sudden victory.
• After Suriano escaped in TB1 for a 2-1 lead, he was initially hit for locked hands in TB2 prior to a Fix escape, giving Fix a 3-2 lead. However, the call was reversed after review, reverting the score back to 2-1 in favor of Suriano. Fix would add another escape for a 2-2 at the end of the TB2.
• In the second sudden victory, Suriano was hit for a hands-to-the-face call, giving Fix a point and the 3-2 decision.
Rutgers vs. Oklahoma State: How it Happened
• The Cowboys claimed eight out of 10 bouts against the Scarlet Knights to secure their seventh dual win of the season.
• OSU claimed the first three bouts of the dual before Ashnault took the mat against 19-1 Gfeller. The match was even throughout the two periods, with the score tied, 6-6, at the end of period two. However, Ashnault worked an escape after choosing bottom in the third period and landed a takedown with 48 seconds remaining, tacking on the riding time point for a 10-7 final.
• Van Brill followed against Jonce Blaylock, earning an escape in the first period for an early 3-2 lead. Blaylock fought back to make it 3-3 in the third period, but a Van Brill escape in the final minute secured the 4-3 decision, as Rutgers trailed just 10-5 at intermission.
• The Cowboys would claim the final five bouts of the afternoon after intermission, but it did not come easy for the No. 3 team in the country. Four of their final five wins came by just decision, as
Stephan Glasgow (165) dropped a tight 5-4 decision to No. 18 Andrew Shomers out of the break.
Joseph Grello (174),
Matthew Correnti (197) and
Christian Colucci (HWT) also lost by just decision to ranked foes.
Notables
• The 7,545 fans in attendance were the second most for a wrestling match at the RAC in school history. 8,321 fans watched the Scarlet Knights wrestle No. 1 Penn State on Jan. 28, 2018 in Piscataway.
• Ashnault is now 15-0 this season with four ranked wins. The graduate student has accounted for 51 team points to lead the program in that category.
• Ashnault now has 106 career wins, tied for seventh in program history with Scott Winston and Greg Austin. Ashnault is 12 wins away from taking sole possession of the program record.
• Despite the loss, Suriano has yet to concede a takedown this season. It was his first loss since the 2018 national finals and first loss in dual action since taking a medical forfeit against Oklahoma State on Feb. 19, 2017 as a freshman at Penn State.
No. 3 Oklahoma State 26, No. 24 Rutgers 5
Match started at 125 Pounds
Both teams deducted a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct
Officials: Jason Wedgbury, Jim Rivello
Attendance: 7,545
125: No. 4/4/4 Nicholas Piccininni (OKST) over
Shane Metzler (RUTG) (TF 16-0)
133: No. 4/6/4 Daton Fix (OKST) over No. 2/3/2
Nick Suriano (RUTG) (TB2 3-2)
141: No. 12/13/14 Kaid Brock (OKST) over Pete Lipari (RUTG) (Dec 9-6)
149: No. 2/2/2
Anthony Ashnault (RUTG) over No. 6/5/5 Kaden Gfeller (OKST) (Dec 10-7)
157: No. 15/15/15
John Van Brill (RUTG) over Jonce Blaylock (OKST) (Dec 4-3)
165: No. 18/NR/17 Andrew Shomers (OKST) over
Stephan Glasgow (RUTG) (Dec 5-4)
174: No. 5/5/ Joe Smith (OKST) over Joe Grello (RUTG) (Dec 9-6)
184: No. 11/11/10 Jacobe Smith (OKST) over
Willie Scott (RUTG) (MD 14-5)
197: No. 10/13/10 Dakota Geer (OKST over Matt Correnti (RUTG) (Dec 4-2)
285: No. 3/3/3 Derek White (OKST) over
Christian Colucci (RUTG) (Dec, 4-2)
Quotes
Head coach Scott Goodale
On the Suriano Match: We challenged the locking hands, they said it wasn't there. They're looking at a video, so if it's not there, it's not there. Because they gave him one already, that's why they stayed in control. I guess they challenged a locked hands, there was reaction time, they never gave him one, so that's why he went back down. I don't know what took so long, it killed the momentum of the whole match. I thought both guys kept their composure, and wanted to wrestle, wanted to see wrestling. I don't want to say it was terrible for the sport, but it was a long drawn out match. That's how I felt about it.
On Suriano's hands in face call: I would have to really look at it; if it was there, it was there, that's the rule. That's the rule, that's the rule. He made the call. I think they were both hands in the face the whole match, he let them wrestle. I don't know, you say something here, you sound like a sore, I don't know, it's the rule. If it was there, it was there. I haven't seen it yet, I haven't looked at it yet. It's just a long time to have it decided like that. Two guys with a lot of fire power, a lot of, I don't want to say no action, but not a whole lot of action. They're two guys with tremendous fire power that can score a lot of points. It is what it is.
On 133 heading into 3rd period 1-1: That's kind of what I thought, there wasn't a lot of action. I don't think there were many attempts on either part. I don't think one guy even got in a leg. They're two world class opponents feeling each other out for a long time. You hope they wrestle again, I'm assuming, at least on our end we'd like to see that match again, maybe at the national tournament. There has to be more offense, and I think Nick knows that, I'm sure they're thinking the same way. That's just my take on it, right after the dual meet.
On the end of Ashnault's match: Anthony likes to have fun. I think he has a lot of respect for Coach Smith and his program, Coach Perry and Esposito. They recruited him, there's a relationship. He doesn't mean disrespect by it. That guy is backing up his team, good for that guy. He backed up his team, went after him, he [Anthony] went back at him, it's over and done with. It's no big deal.
On the atmosphere: It was awesome. There was a buildup. Thanks to you guys, it was great. It's what the sport needs, more of it. There was a lot of hype surrounding it. We tried, as coaches, to contain it, since it's a regular match, but it's not a regular match. There was more than 8,000 people there, in a great wrestling environment. These guys deserve that. WE wrestled hard in spots. It was fun. Obviously, there were matches there, we want to finish the right way and win, and not protect leads, finish and ice the match. That would've been better. The atmosphere is awesome, it was a great turn out. It got wild there for a little bit. It was good.
On the hype possibly having an effect on Suriano: No, I don't. It was a buildup. That's what Nick wanted, you know he doesn't mind that. That's what it's about for him. I don't think that had anything to do with it.
Anthony on the crowd: It felt great. Being on a team, were not oblivious to it. We knew the match up with Suriano and Fix, we were supporting Nick in the process. I remember talking to Donny like two days ago, saying we should start at 141, that would be pretty cool. It was just a big match up in terms of that match and the whole team. We all had ranked guys, we all had big opportunities. We knew it was going to be a big crowd because of the hype and we looked forward to that. That's why a lot of us came to Rutgers, to wrestle matches like this and have crowds like this. I just we that we did a better job. At 133 the match was so long its hard to keep the fans that maybe don't understand the sport as much involved and as excited as they should be about an overtime match with two guys who might be in the national finals together. Maybe it was our fault, maybe it was the ref's fault, but whatever it is, it's over with, we can't go back and change it. For me personally, I was looking forward to it, but at the same time I was just chilling out in the back trying to not get over excited before I had to go out there my thing.
On Suriano's reaction to match: I think those guys respect each other, they shook hands, I'm sure thinking they'll both see each other again, it's over and done with. He's probably a little disappointed it ended that way and that's all.
On Glasgow: He has to close out the match. You're winning the match, close it out; don't sit around and wait. Close out the match and make it 6-3, instead of losing 5-4. Close it out. You can't go on bottom, because you're a little banged up with your knee, then don't get taken down. That's the way I feel at 165, that's the way I feel at 197. Close out the match and ice it. The only way you really get over the hump as a program and from an individual standpoint is winning those big, close matches. There's going to come a point in March when you're going to have to do it. It'll be our message next practice, and it's always our message. It's probably the most frustrating thing as I sit here right now.
On Gravina: We'll know a little bit more this week, where he's at. He has a lot more range of motion than he had the other night.
On Lipari: Score more points than the other guy. You can't just give up takedowns and spend time on the bottom. You have to be stingier with those things. He wrestled tough, but he's been wrestling tough. Until you win a big match and get over the hump, were not happy being close.
Graduate Student Anthony Ashnault
On the end of his match: I was having fun, and I celebrated. It was no disrespect to anyone, I was just celebrating. We were wrestling the Oklahoma State Cowboys, so I was like gun slinger for the cowboys, but it was really no disrespect. I was just having fun. I guess he felt disrespected, he said, "don't disrespect me," and pushed me. Honestly, I didn't really care that much, I didn't want to look like I took a push, so I took a step towards him. It was no disrespect, I think he knows that. We both wrestled a hard match, a lot of points. I'm sure we'll see each other again.
On the long wait at 133: For me, I've been doing a great job this year of just having a routine and sticking to it. Previously I would just tell myself "its wrestling, you've done it for a bunch of years, go out there and do it." I have a routine now and I stay true to it. I put myself in another zone and I stay concentrated until it's my time to go. When I get the opportunity, I get out there and let it fly. When my time is done, I'll be a player coach as much as I can be, and I'll put the time in. It's hard for me to go out there and be in the environment with Suriano, all of the ups and downs. I have to take myself out of it and wait for my time.
Oklahoma State Head Coach John Smith
On the 133 lbs. match: "I do not think either one of them was wrestling their best offensive game. Sometimes you will see a match like this and (Dayton) Fix is a young guy, never been to a national tournament. Definitely not upset by his performance by any means but we can this performance and learn some things, hopefully we can build upon it."
On the officiating in today's match: "There were some tough calls that really neither side understood. We understand one thing about a rule, maybe we do not but I think we do. In the end, the officials wanted to make the right call and that is why they took their time. Whether we think they made the right or wrong call. I think there was an effort there to get the call right."
On the duration of reviews during the 133 lbs. match: "I just think we have to work a little bit quicker. They strung that out a little bit. I think they want the call right. The review is fine, but we need to be quicker, 15 seconds and boom we are wrestling. I would not mind not seeing the reviews, just get rid of it, but if we are going to keep it, we just need to work on the process. We should not have something strung out for 20 minutes."
On the team's overall performance today: "I did not think that was the Oklahoma State team out there wrestling today. I was hoping for a lot more, especially with a match under our belt. We were not offensive enough in several of the matches, where we thought there could be some lopsided scores. We escaped the match with some ugly wins, it is nice to win on the road, that is important to do, but just did not seem like the team I was hoping for even with a big score. We all know that several of the matches could have been a lot closer."
On Kaden Gfeller facing No. 1 & 2 wrestlers at 149 lbs. this weekend: "He was competitive in both of them. We saw yesterday, that guy is getting to his legs to quickly. It was a good effort for a freshman on the road. Maybe we can get a little better learning from something like this weekend."
On the end of the 149 lbs. match: "I reminded him who he wrestles for and it is not something we represent. I did not see it but both guys did something to get a point deducted from both teams. We do not need that, just walk off the mat. When you lose, it does not look good."
On the atmosphere at the RAC today: "I thought it was a great event. It is good to see the support, it is pretty exciting. Maybe we can keep Rutgers on the schedule, we would love a home-and-home. We did not get to wrestle them on their last trip down there. This is a return visit for Oklahoma State to Rutgers, it has been several years. We owed them this and I am glad to see it happen and maybe we can keep this dual happen, I would like to see it. I definitely like recruiting up here."
Up Next
Rutgers returns to the road to face No. 4 Iowa on Friday, Jan. 18 at 9 p.m. ET. The match will broadcast live in primetime on BTN.
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