Rutgers is a drastically different dual meet team without Nick Suriano, and it has shown.
Suriano, the nation's No. 1-ranked 125-pounder, missed his second straight match due to illness Friday. The No. 18 Scarlet Knights then dropped their second consecutive winnable dual meet, falling to No. 21 Minnesota, 20-12, in their home finale at the Rutgers Athletics Center in Piscataway.
Rutgers (6-7 overall, 2-6 Big Ten) wrestled relatively well. But not well enough to overcome what may have been a 10-point swing at 125. Suriano would have had a shot to defeat Minnesota's No. 6 Ethan Lizak by technical fall, based on common opponents and scores this season.