FORT WORTH, Texas – Reigning 2019 NCAA Champion Nick Suriano qualified for the 2020 Olympic Team Trials after he finished fourth in the 57 kg men's freestyle event at the 2019 Senior Nationals on Sunday in Fort Worth, Texas. Suriano is now eligible to compete at the trials, held from April 4-5 in State College, Pennsylvania.
 
Suriano picked up five individual victories at the senior-level tournament, which included two wins over former NCAA national champions. After he dropped to the consolation bracket on Saturday, Suriano used a 10-0 win by superiority (technical fall) over 2017 NCAA Champion Darian Cruz to advance to the consolation semifinals, while a forfeit by 2016 NCAA champion Nahshon Garrett sent Suriano to the bronze-medal match and secured himself a spot at the Olympic trials. Suriano forfeited his consolation championship bout to close out the weekend.
 
As the No. 2 seed, Suriano opened the tournament on Saturday with back-to-back victories, including a 10-0 win by superiority over Brian Longmire to move on to the quarterfinals. However, a 2-2 loss by criteria to 2019 All-American Vitali Arujau moved Suriano to the wrestlebacks. Suriano responded with a 12-0 win by superiority over Zane Richards to set himself up for a run to qualifying.
 
Suriano, who is currently in Olympic redshirt, is coming off an historic junior season, as the Paramus native finished 29-3 en route to both a Big Ten title and national championship at 133 pounds in 2018-19. At nationals, Suriano defeated No. 1 seed Daton Fix (Oklahoma State) in the 133-pound final, using a takedown in overtime to seal the victory.
 
Two other wrestlers with Rutgers' ties competed at Senior Nationals over the weekend. Three-time NCAA qualifier John Van Brill, wrestling a 74 kg, went 1-2, which included an 11-7 win over Jake Keating. Volunteer assistant coach Tyler Graff, who competed at 60 kg in the Greco Roman event, went 1-2.

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