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It finally happened.
Just your two national champions.#RelentlessPursuit | #GoRU pic.twitter.com/KQNi6R7nwJ
— Rutgers Wrestling (@RUWrestling) March 24, 2019
For Rutgers. For Jersey.#RelentlessPursuit #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/bSmuyP16U3
— Rutgers Wrestling (@RUWrestling) March 24, 2019
National Champion and Rutgers are in the same sentence.
BOOM! Nick Suriano is your 133-pound NCAA Champion, the first in program history!
— Rutgers Wrestling (@RUWrestling) March 23, 2019
#RelentlessPursuit | #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/jlnTbqstM5
TWO!#RelentlessPursuit | #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/PdbhnEhmu5
— Rutgers Wrestling (@RUWrestling) March 24, 2019
Nick Suriano captured the first title in program history with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Oklahoma State’s Daton Fix in the second sudden victory period.
Anthony Ashnault followed it up with a 9-4 victory over Ohio State’s Micah Jordan to clinch his first title and give Rutgers their second champion of the night.
BOOM! Anthony Ashnault is your 149-pound NCAA Champion!
— Rutgers Wrestling (@RUWrestling) March 24, 2019
#RelentlessPursuit | #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/bAbjFTJ6tT
Match Results
133: No. 3 Nick Suriano - Rutgers vs. No. 1 Daton Fix - Oklahoma State
Result: Suriano by Decision 4-2 (SV2)
-Oh. My. God.
What a match. Suriano was relentless in his attacks, emphatic in his escape send it to sudden victory two and then the final takedown to seal it. Are you not entertained?!
149: No. 1 Anthony Ashnault - Rutgers vs. No. 2 Micah Jordan - Ohio State
Result: No. 1 Anthony Ashnault - Rutgers vs. No. 2 Micah Jordan - Ohio State
-Wow. There’s two of them.
Two national champions. Ashnault overcame an early penalty point and rolled to a 9-4 victory and defeated Jordan for the third time this season.
How it Happened: Suriano
After being tied 1-1 after the third, with stall warnings aplenty, Suriano and Fix did not score in the first sudden victory and that’s where the deja vu was coming in. The first set of tiebreakers started with Suriano riding out Fix for a full 30 seconds but he was hit for stalling at the end of that period. Scott Goodale threw out the challenge brick but it was not overturned.
The second thirty seconds was even more of a blast. Suriano got caught in the double boots from Fix and was almost ridden out. He gave everything he had and earned the escape for send it to the second sudden victory. From there, Suriano was relentless, earned the takedown and captured that elusive National Title. He then stood in the center of the mat reminiscent of “Gladiator.”
Nick Suriano is the first national champion in the history of @RUWrestling! #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/Z3TfWPzDEm
— NCAA Wrestling (@ncaawrestling) March 23, 2019
Nick Suriano after making history for @RUWrestling! #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/ddKiuxNCMw
— NCAA Wrestling (@ncaawrestling) March 24, 2019
How it Happened: Ashnault
Ashnault overcame a 1-0 deficit after he was penalized for hands to the face. From there, he earned a takedown and near-fall points to go up 4-1 and it was all Shnaulty from there.
Ashnault winning was the icing on the cake, but it was the culmination of a historic career. A four time All-American, three time Big Ten Champion, and now 2019 National Champion. There isn’t much to say other than the greatest athlete in the history of Rutgers University is walking off into the sunset.
For a recap on post-match reactions, click here.
Anthony Ashnault of @RUWrestling sounds off after ending his career with a national title! #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/pvgd517lPf
— NCAA Wrestling (@ncaawrestling) March 24, 2019
That national champ feeling!! #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/4F55tkgqAB
— NCAA Wrestling (@ncaawrestling) March 24, 2019
Anthony Ashnault caps his career off with a national title! @RUWrestling will take two gold medals back to the Garden State! #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/sXFaCLSFdy
— NCAA Wrestling (@ncaawrestling) March 24, 2019
And so does your 149-pound National Champion. #RelentlessPursuit pic.twitter.com/8fJWYMvhZs
— Rutgers Wrestling (@RUWrestling) March 24, 2019