Penn State grants Nick Suriano's release

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Wrestler Nick Suriano was a standout for the Nittany Lions as a true freshman and is expected to challenge for an individual NCAA title this season, but he will push for that title elsewhere.

Suriano, a New Jersey native who was a four-time state champ as a high schooler, has been removed from the Nittany Lions' roster and Penn State athletics confirmed to DKPittsburghSports that Suriano requested his release so he could transfer to Rutgers. Per conference rules, should Suriano transfer to Rutgers he would have to sit out a year.

"Nick Suriano recently requested a release so that he could transfer to Rutgers," Penn State athletics said in a statement to DKPittsburghSports. "We granted this release. Subject to Big Ten policy, any intra-conference transfer is required to sit for one year before they are again eligible to participate. Nick is open to transfer to Rutgers and will be subject to that school’s policies (conference or otherwise) on transfer and eligibility status. We support and work within the Big Ten policy."



It's unclear why Suriano is seeking a transfer after early success at Penn State.

Suriano went 16-3 last season as a true freshman but missed out on competing at NCAAs after sustaining an ankle injury in the postseason. The 125-pound weight class has been a dominant one for the Lions under Cael Sanderson and while Suriano was expected to continue that string of success, the Lions are still the likely favorites to take home another NCAA team title.

Last season with Suriano hobbled, Sanderson's Lions went a perfect 5-for-5 in the finals had the team title -- their sixth in seven years -- wrapped up before the evening session even began. Sanderson agreed to a contract extension with Penn State last month, a move athletic director Sandy Barbour mentioned during Big Ten media days.