Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/752868
rior, and if you want to win and be a champion you have to do these things." So he kept fighting, and maybe more important, kept showing up – so fre- quently, in fact, that he would have to be told when to go home. The coaches would even go into the practice room on a Sat- urday afternoon, when everyone else had the weekend off, and there was Suriano stone-faced, running wind-sprints on a treadmill. "Sometimes I get crazy," he admitted. "I'm hungry. I know what I want. I'm here to win a gold medal. I have that goal in my gut, so yeah, there are some nights where I get caught in here running on the tread- mill, whatever, just doing me. I just like to push myself. That's just what I do, my whole life. It's part of the process." The passion, the unwavering intensity, the focus – qualities that Suriano demonstrated before starting a collegiate match – have Sanderson feeling confi- dent about continuing to start dual meets at 125 pounds, even though NCAA cham- pion Nico Megaludis is no longer at the leadoff spot. Like Suriano, Megaludis earned the starting spot at 125 as a true freshman. After that, whenever it was up to Sander- son, he would choose to open at the de- fault 125-pound weight class rather than opting for a random draw. Sending Mega- ludis out first – "batting leadoff" as Sanderson often calls it – was the coach's attempt to set a tone for the remaining nine bouts. Asked if that will continue with Suriano in the lineup, Sanderson replied, "For sure. [He brings] consistency and toughness, and that's what we want in a leadoff guy, a guy who is going to win tough matches, a guy who is the same every time. Whether we're in Rec Hall, on the road, in the Big Ten or national tournament, Nick Suriano is going to be Nick Suriano, and that's what we love about him." Suriano isn't the only new wrestler making his debut in the Penn State lineup. Others, although they've been on the roster for a year or two, are now solidifying their spots as full-time starters. At 133, Jered Cortez takes over for All- American Jordan Conaway. Cortez trans- ferred from Illinois before last season after taking a redshirt with the Illini. Sit- ting out in accordance with Big Ten reg- ulations, Cortez won 12 matches wrestling unattached, including a win over Conaway in the final round of the Nittany Lion Open, 5-4, in overtime. Now Cortez has immediate aspirations to reach the podium like Conaway did his senior year, and he's hoping his mat wrestling helps lead him there. NAME CLASS ELIG. HOME SCHOOL Francisco Bisono 165 R-Fr. Hauppauge, N.Y. Hauppauge Brian Brill 165/174 Sr. Lock Haven, Pa. Central Mountain George Carpenter 133 So. Chapel Hill, N.C. Carrboro Anthony Cassar 197 R-Fr. Rocky Hill, N.J. Montgomery Jered Cortez 133 So. Carol Stream, Ill. Glenbard North Gary Dinmore 141 R-Fr. Skillman, N.J. Hunterdon Central Brian Fiery 141/149 Fr. Lewisburg, Pa. Lewisburg Luke Gardner 149 Fr. Pottsville, Pa. Pottsville Dominic Giannangeli 133 R-Fr. Murrysville, Pa. Franklin Regional Jimmy Gulibon 141 Sr. Latrobe, Pa. Derry Area Mark Hall 174 Fr. Apple Valley, Minn. Apple Valley Patrick Higgins 125 R-Fr. Monroeville, N.J. Woodstown Jan Johnson Hwt. So. Mohnton, Pa. Governor Mi>in Vincenzo Joseph 149 R-Fr. Pittsburgh, Pa. Central Catholic Triston Law 133/141 R-Fr. Windber, Pa. Forest Hills Mason Lindenmuth 133/141 Fr. Brockway, Pa. Brockway Caleb Livingston 174 GS Drexel Hill, Pa. Upper Darby Justin Lopez 125 Fr. Yonkers, N.Y. Yonkers Matt McCutcheon 197 Jr. Apollo, Pa. Kiski Area Geno Morelli 165/174 Sr. DuBois, Pa. DuBois Kade Moss 141 Jr. South Jordan, Utah Bingham Nick Nevills Hwt. So. Clovis, Calif. Clovis Alex Nicholas Hwt. Fr. Allentown, Pa. Salisbury Twp. Bo Nickal 174 So. Allen, Texas Allen Jason Nolf 157 So. Yatesboro, Pa. Kittanning Bo Pipher 141/149 FR Paonia, Colo. Paonia Shakur Rasheed 165 So. Coram, N.Y. Longwood Zain Retherford 149 Jr. Benton, Pa. Benton Devin Schnupp 125 Fr. Lititz, Pa. Warwick Scott Stossel 133 So. Pittsburgh, Pa. North Allegheny Kellan Stout 184 R-Fr. Pittsburgh, Pa. Mt. Lebanon Nick Suriano 125 Fr. Paramus, N.J. Bergen Catholic Devon Van Cura 174/184 So. Washington, N.C. Washington Ethan Wissler – Jr. Holtwood, Pa. Penn Manor Kenneth Yanovich 125 So. E?ort, Pa. Pleasant Valley 2 0 1 6 - 1 7 R O S T E R