From: Bradly Derechailo [email protected] Subject: No. 12 Rutgers Opens Season with Maryland at High Point Solutions Stadium Date: November 3, 2017 at 9:54 AM To: Bradly Derechailo [email protected]

RUTGERS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF 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: [email protected])

No. 12 Rutgers Wrestling Opens Season with Maryland at High Point Solutions Stadium Scarlet Knights face Terrapins prior to 3:30 p.m. football game in Piscataway

Match Notes – Week One | BTNPlus Livestream | Tickets | 2017-18 Season Outlook

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Nov. 3, 2017) – The highly anticipated 2017-18 season gets underway Saturday when No. 12 Rutgers wrestling hosts Maryland for a noon match outside at High Point Solutions Stadium. The dual is part of a doubleheader with the football team, which plays the Terrapins at 3:30 p.m. For more information on the doubleheader, please see our FAQ page.

Saturday marks the second consecutive season the Scarlet Knights will compete outside at HPSS, as RU defeated Princeton, 19-16, last November at the venue in front of 16,178 fans.

For the second consecutive year, the Scarlet Knights are the No. 12 team in the nation, according to the USA Today/National Coaches Association (NWCA) Division I Preseason Coaches Poll, released this week. The No. 12 position to begin a season ties the highest ranking in program history, as RU also appeared at No. 12 to start 2016-17.

The match marks the program debut of sophomore 125-pounder Nick Suriano, who competed for Penn State last season. Suriano is immediately eligible to participate in 2017-18 for Rutgers wrestling, and will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

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. 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.

Six Scarlet Knights will start the season ranked by Intermat. Four grapplers - Suriano (3), Anthony Six Scarlet Knights will start the season ranked by Intermat. Four grapplers - Suriano (3), (5), Richie Lewis (8) and Nicholas Gravina (10) - represent RU in the top 10. Six projected starters for Saturday also have previous NCAA Championships experience, while Suriano (125), Michael Van Brill (141), Eleazar DeLuca (149), and Kevin Mulligan (197) will make their Rutgers dual debuts.

Rutgers Projected Competitors Wt. Name Yr. Hometown 2016-17 Record (Dual) 125 No. 3 Nick Suriano*^ So. Paramus, N.J. 16-3 (12-2) 133 No. 11 Scott DelVecchio** R-Sr. South Plainfield, N.J. 23-15 (7-6) 141 Michael Van Brill& R-Fr. Mullica Hill, N.J. 18- 5 (0-0) 149 Eleazar DeLuca& R-Sr. Talent, Ore. 6-2 (0-0) 157 No. 8 Richie Lewis* R-Sr. Toms River, N.J. 1- 0 (1-0) 165 John Van Brill* R-Jr. Mullica Hill, N.J. 24-13 (11-4) 174 No. 16 Jordan Pagano* R-Jr. South Brunswick, N.J. 27-12 (6-1) 184 No. 10 Nicholas Gravina** R-Sr. Allendale, N.J. 23-11 (11-5) 197 Kevin Mulligan& R-Fr. Blauvelt, N.Y. 28- 8 (0-0) HWT Razohnn Gross Sr. Franklin Park, N.J. 14- 12 (6-7) * denotes previous NCAA Championships qualifications ^ qualified with Penn State & denotes unattached record

Maryland Projected Competitors Wt. Name Yr. 2016-17 Record (Dual) 125 Brandon Cray R-Fr. 0-0 (0-0) 133 Michael Doetsch R-Fr. 0-0 (0-0) -OR- Jhared Simmons R-Sr. 0-0 (0-0) 141 No. 14 Ryan Diehl* R-Jr. 0-0 (0-0) 149 Adam Whitesell R-Jr. 0-0 (0-0) 157 Kyle Cochran Fr. 0-0 (0-0) -OR- Justin Alexander R-Jr. 0-0 (0-0) 165 Brendan Burnham R-So. 0-0 (0-0) 174 Josh Ugalde R-Fr. 0-0 (0-0) -OR- Spencer Woods R-Fr. 0-0 (0-0) 184 Jaron Smith R-So. 0-0 (0-0) 197 Nick Cappello R-Fr. 0-0 (0-0) HWT No. 13 Youssif Hemida** Jr. 0-0 (0-0) * denotes previous NCAA Championships qualifications

Series vs. Maryland All-time, RU holds the series edge over the Terrapins, 9-5-1. Rutgers has won all three matchups with Maryland since both joined the Big Ten Conference in 2014, which includes a 21-13 victory over UMD last season in College Park on Dec. 11, 2016.

Ranked Matchups According to Intermat, two unranked Scarlet Knights will get opportunities against ranked opponents.

Redshirt senior Eleazar DeLuca is set for a matchup with No. 14 Ryan Diehl. A 2017 NCAA Championships qualifier, Diehl finished fifth in his weight class at the 2017 Big Ten Championships last season.

2017 Big Ten Championships placewinner Razohnn Gross will go against No. 13 Youssif Hemida. Hemida went 3-2 at the 2017 NCAA Championships and placed seventh at the 2017 Big Ten Championships.

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.

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