2018 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational

Tech Notes: Stevan Micic vs Nick Suriano

Tech Notes: Stevan Micic vs Nick Suriano

The 2018 CKLV field will play host to over 100 ranked competitors and at the top of everyone's wish list is a Micic vs Suriano final at 133.

Nov 26, 2018 by Michael Malinconico
Tech Notes: Stevan Micic vs Nick Suriano
IT’S CKLV WEEK! 

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IT’S CKLV WEEK! 

(Insert your favorite overly-excited GIF here)

There is definitely more than one loaded weight this coming weekend at CKLV, but 133 is shaping up to be the most loaded of all. The field boasts 14 of the top 20 ranked wrestlers in the country. In case you think that was a type-o I’ll repeat it. FOURTEEN of the TOP 20! 

There are hundreds of different factors that could come into play this Friday and Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention center. First is the fact that the top four at the weight boast such starkly different styles of wrestling. For example, if Ethan Lizak starts rolling around with someone like Stevan Micic it could prove disastrous for The Wolverine. However, if Lizak winds up on the same side of the bracket as Nick Suriano I think The Gopher would be the one in for a long, long, day.  

Let’s operate under the assumption that the top four seeds are given to Micic, Suriano, Pletcher, and Lizak, respectively. If those seeds hold up (another bold assumption, given the field) then we are staring down the barrel of an epic Micic/Suriano showdown on Saturday night. Let's take a close look at Micic vs Suriano, shall we? 

#3 Stevan Micic

Elbows Woes Under Control

So much of Stevan Micic’s offense is predicated on getting to and using elbow control. In fact, the one match that Micic wasn’t able to get to elbows he took one is his worse losses of the year. That loss came at the hands of Austin DeSanto in the wrestle-back rounds of last year’s CKLV. Watch below as DeSanto takes a big bite of inside control, when Micic tries to reach for elbows DeSanto keeps his head in the way while flaying his elbows up and out of reach. 

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Suriano is probably a better wrestler from inside control than Austin DeSanto, and while that may seem like bad news for the Wolverine I don’t look at it that way. Stevan and the Michigan staff quite obviously made the adjustment because when Micic wrestled DeSanto in the NCAA quarterfinals Micic simply didn’t allow him to get to his tie. Every time DeSanto would bite down on that inside tie Micic retracted from the situation and re-engaged in order to get a more favorable tie for himself. 

It’s December

While a loss to Suriano at CKLV may have an impact on the conference seeding (something tells me we won’t see that matchup in Piscataway in February) we do have to keep in mind that everything is practice until March. Sean Bormet has done an outstanding job over the years (even as an assistant) at making sure the Wolverines are healthy and happy going into the post-season. Sometimes that means putting less emphasis on winning and more emphasis on development in December. That’s not to say that Stevan isn’t going to try and win this matchup. Of course he is. But just understand that you may see a different version of Micic in the post-season. Take a look at Micic’s loss to Luke Pletcher in the semi-finals of last year’s CKLV. The final score was 7-5 Pletcher. Micic went on to win the next three meetings between the two. 

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#2 Nick Suriano 

The Fast Get Faster

Coming off last year’s NCAA finals performance at 125 pounds, Nick Suriano has moved up to 133. Suriano is 6-0 in his 2018-19 campaign and has earned bonus points in all six bouts. Moving up in weight has its positive and negative effects. One of the positive effects is that if you were one of the faster guys at the lower weight you have a tendency to look REALLY fast at the higher weight. Please understand, though, the appearance of speed on a wrestling mat isn't solely about speed. It’s a combination of speed, accuracy, technique, and timing. 

Suriano's micro-level change is deadly. At 125 it was fast. At 133 he looks ready to break the sound barrier. Watch the clip below as Suriano hits a micro-level change with his chest, jab steps with his right leg and then chases tail to the left, all with blinding speed and pin-point precision. 

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Motorin’? 

No one, and I mean, NO ONE has ever questioned Nick Suriano’s gas tank. Until right now. Why would I question the gas tank of an athlete that has habitually exhibited astounding ability to keep pace seven minutes (plus)? A couple of reasons, first, it’s Suriano’s first top-level competition at 133. Eight pounds may not sound like that big of a jump, but I assure you that it makes a big difference especially when you take into account that he’ll probably spend a good part of the semifinal trying to pull The Backpack off of him. Secondly, Nick Suriano only has one speed. Full throttle. Full throttle may come at a cost being up in weight. Forget about the mat wrestling with the likes of Ethan Lizak for a second, having 133 lb mainstays like Montorie Bridges and Luke Pletcher pull on your head may put him in a position to hit the proverbial wall for the first time. 

I have a pretty good idea what Ill be doing on Saturday night.