ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Cliff Keen Wrestling Club announced today (Wednesday, Sept. 28) the addition of two-time NCAA champion Nick Suriano to its senior-level freestyle roster. Suriano, who captured the 125-pound NCAA title last March in Detroit, will compete in the 57kg freestyle weight class
“We are thrilled Nick has chosen to continue to make Michigan his home,” said Michigan head coach Sean Bormet. “He brings a tremendous amount of intensity and tenacity to the mat when he trains and competes, and he will be a great addition to our lightweights. Nick is fanatical about winning, and more importantly, he is fanatical about preparing to win. He is focused on the right things all the time. That is a trait that will serve him well as he takes his wrestling career to the world stage. I’m excited for his future.”
“I will continue to accelerate and merge with Cliff Keen and Michigan Wrestling,” said Suriano, “and I embrace the opportunity to become a World and Olympic champion by the summer of 2024.”
One of the nation’s top lightweight wrestlers over the last five years, Suriano captured two NCAA titles over his collegiate career (2017-19, ’22), winning at 133 pounds as a junior (2019) before capturing the 125-pound crown as a senior at Michigan (2022). He was a three-time NCAA All-American, also taking second place at 125 pounds as a sophomore (2018). Following his senior season, he was a finalist for the Dan Hodge Trophy, presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate wrestler.
Suriano compiled an 86-7 record in college, including a perfect 16-0 mark last year, and earned bonus points in more than 70 percent of his career wins. He was a two-time Big Ten champion (2019, ’22) and added tournament titles at both the Midlands Championships and CKLV Invitational. He was the first NCAA champion in Rutgers school history and, in 2019, was named the Scarlet Knights’ Male Athlete of the Year.
Suriano has quickly earned freestyle success since making his senior-level debut in 2019. He has medaled at 57kg at three international events, including gold at the 2021 Henri Deglane Grand Prix and silver at the 2021 Matteo Pellicone, a UWW Ranking Series event. Suriano also placed fourth at the 2019 U.S. Nationals, posting a 4-1 record, to qualify for the Olympic Trials.
