It’s that time of the year again.
Class is in session, the weather is changing, preseason wrestling has begun, and Flowrestling has released their first installment of their individual rankings for the 2018 – 2019 season. The way-too-early predictions give wrestling fans the sense that the season is just around the corner. Depending on who you ask, opinions vary on rankings. Some will say that they are a precursor for what we can expect to see this year, while others will say that they’re pointless, and the only outcome that matters is the one that is decided on the mat (I’m the latter). Either way, the rankings are a conversation piece that ignites a buzz and excitement for the upcoming year, so let’s keep the trend going and take a deeper dive into the ranked Scarlet Knights.
125-pound #2 Nick Suriano
This one comes with no surprise. Despite a nagging staph infection, Nick Suriano was a buzz-saw at the 125-pound weight class last year. Suriano was a nightmare for most of his opponents, earning twelve bonus point wins in his twenty-five victories. As anticipated, the then sophomore was on a collision course with freshman-phenom, Spencer Lee, for the 125-pound crown. The match was quite one-sided, in favor of Lee, but proved that Nick Suriano will be a title contender for his remaining two seasons. The question is: which weight will Suriano end up at for the second-half of his career? Rumors of a weight-change for Suriano have been the talk of the offseason, with some speculation we will see him at 133-pounds. Regardless of the weight, Nick Suriano will be in the national title picture.
149-pound #3 Anthony Ashnault
Anthony Ashnault changed Rutgers Wrestling. Yes, the Rutgers wrestling program has seen their fair-share of top recruits come through the circuit. However, none have been more impactful, and more influential than Anthony Ashnault. When the South Plainfield product chose to stay home, fans around the Garden State knew that this was the start of something special. Ashnault will be vying for this fourth trip to the podium, but for Ashnault, the top of the mountain is the only thing that matters. The goal is certainly within reach, as the only wrestlers ranked ahead of Ashnault are in-state rival, Matthew Kolodzik of Princeton, and Ohio State Buckeye, Micah Jordan. This weight is completely up for grabs, so it would be no surprise to see Ashnault mob his way to a national championship in his sixth and final season.
157-pound #9 John Van Brill
JVB is the Greg Zannetti of this era – meaning: he came out of nowhere. He was a talented kid coming out of high school, but most probably did not have the highest expectations for Van Brill. But like Zannetti, JVB has worked his way into the AA conversation on several occasions, and he has notched some land-mark victories under his belt throughout his career. After a heart-breaking loss in the blood round at the 2018 NCAA tournament, Van Brill looks to cement his name as the potential 17th All-American is Rutgers wrestling history. However, JVB is another question mark in the Rutgers line up, as the Knights could feature the fifth-year senior at 165-pounds. It appears that Van Brill, along with in-coming freshman, Stephan Glasgow, will be the 1-2 punch at 157 and 165. The order in which the duo is featured remains to be seen. Regardless, count JVB in as a legitimate contender for a podium spot at either weight.
184-pounds #12 Nick Gravina
If you’ve heard Coach Goodale speak about his team, you’ve heard him preach the importance of his wrestlers “buying in” and “living the lifestyle”. Meaning: doing all things right academically, athletically, and socially. If you were to ask Goodale which wrestlers on his team do that best, Nick Gravina’s name would be at the top of the list. This kid is a walking representation of the people of New Jersey – tough, gritty, and hardworking. Though Gravina is ranked four spots beneath the AA threshold, do not count him out of a podium spot. A nagging shoulder injury has plagued Gravina for almost all his collegiate career. Despite his shoulder issues, Gravina has always been in the thick of the rankings. This is Gravina’s final opportunity for his hard-work to pay off, and capture what has been an elusive podium spot. I’ve said it before, and I’ll continue to say it – this is the year Gravina breaks down that barrier, and he claims his rightful spot on the podium.
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