New Jersey City University Athletics

 
Nicholas Gravina, a former four-year standout on the mat at Division I Rutgers University, has been named the first-ever assistant men’s wrestling coach in New Jersey City University history, head coach Harry Turner announced on September 12.
 
Gravina, a native of Allendale, N.J., was a four-time national qualifier for the Scarlet Knights from 2016-19, and the first four-time Academic All-Big Ten student-athlete in Rutgers history, graduating as a five-time Academic All-Big Ten recipient. He will be making his coaching debut at NJCU.
 
“Nick embodies everything I’m looking for in our team members, not just as an athlete but as a person,” said Turner.  “His toughness, willingness to put the team ahead of himself, and commitment to community make him an ideal role model for our guys to look up to.”
 
Just the sixth four-time national qualifier in program history, Gravina collected 77 career varsity victories during his collegiate career. He began his career in the 165-pound weight class before finishing at 184 pounds. Along the way, he earned an appearance in the 2017 NCAA ‘Round of 12’ and was a two-time Big Ten Championships placewinner, placing fourth in 2016 and sixth in 2019.
 
Gravina was a three-time Midlands Championships placewinner (sixth-2017, sixth-2016, eighth-2015) and claimed the 2016 East Stroudsburg Open Championship. He had a final collegiate mark of 77-35.
 
His career culminated with being honored by the Big Ten Conference as Rutgers University's Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winner. Two Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners are selected annually from each institution among student-athletes who distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior.
 
Off the mat, he was a Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative of the men’s wrestling program for five years (2014-19). He completed a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2017 with an impressive 3.73 grade point average and completed his eligibility while earning a Masters of Education in Counseling Psychology.
 
A 2013 graduate of Northern Highlands Regional High School, Gravina was a two-time NHSCA All-American during his freshman and junior seasons and chalked up an astounding career record of 148-12. He was a four-time District V, Region II and Bergen County champion for the Highlanders while wrestling at the 103, 125, 145 and 152 weight classes.

GRAVINA COLLEGIATE CAREER SUMMARY:
2018-19 (As a graduate senior): Wrestled in fourth NCAA Championships at 184 pounds (March 21-23) ... finished sixth at his final Big Ten Championships (March 9-10) ... muscled an 8-0 major decision over Kyle Jasenski in dual win at Maryland (Feb. 22) ... collected a 3-2 decision over Max Lyon in dual win against Purdue (Feb. 10) ... earned a come-from-behind 4-3 decision over Brandon Krone during dual at Minnesota (Jan. 6) ... made season debut with a 3-2 decision over Michael Fagg-Daves in dual win against Rider (Dec. 16)...Despite missing the first half of the 2018-19 season due to injury, battled through a slew of ailments to wrestle in the final month of the season, and finished with a 6-3 record.
 
2017-18 (As a redshirt senior): Earned an at-large selection to 2018 NCAA Championships, collecting two wins (March 15-17) ... earned a three wins at the Big Ten Championships (March 3-4) ... pinned Kevin Parker in the first round during dual win at Princeton (Feb. 18) ... earned a 5-3 decision over No. 9 Ricky Robertson during road dual win at No. 18 Wisconsin (Feb. 16) ... earned a 8-2 decision over Brandon Krone against Minnesota (Feb. 9) ... muscled a 3-0 decision over Mitch Sliga during road dual win at No .17 Northwestern (Feb. 2) ... picked off No. 7 Taylor Venz during dual at No. 18 Nebraska (Jan. 21) ... collected a major decision during dual win against Hofstra (Jan. 19) ... placed sixth with three victories at 55th Annual Midlands Championships (Dec. 29-30) ... defeated Mitch Bowman by decision, 4-0, during home dual against No. 7 Iowa (Dec. 8) ... wrestled up at 197 pounds and defeated Lock Haven’s Tristian Sponseller (Dec. 1) ... recorded wins over Matthew Waddell (Oklahoma) and Chance McClure (Virginia) at the 2017 Journeymen Northeast Duals (Nov. 11) ... despite a dislocated shoulder during the match, produced a 10-4 decision over Maryland’s Jaron Smith outside at High Point Solutions Stadium (Nov. 4) ... preseason No. 10 at 184 pounds by FloWrestling.
 
2016-17 (As a redshirt junior): Advanced to Round of 12 and finished 3-2 at 2017 NCAA Championships (March 16-18) ... collected seeded victory over Chattanooga's No. 15 Bryce Carr in sudden victory at NCAA's ... finished ninth at Big Ten Championships to earn automatic bid to NCAA's (March 5) ... won his final dual match of the year, 11-2, against Thomas Murray of Lehigh wrestling up at 197 pounds (Feb. 17) … went 4-2 for a sixth-place result at the 54th Annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships (Dec. 29-30) … defeated 2016 NCAA All-American Pete Renda by an 8-2 decision in the tournament … opened the Big Ten season with an 11-3 major decision over Idris White of Maryland (Dec. 11) … won by fall over Donny Donnelly, 0:57, in match against Columbia (Nov. 27) … dominated No. 17 Ian Baker, 24-3, in a tech fall victory in the “Battle at the Birthplace” versus Princeton at High Point Solutions Stadium (Nov. 19) … won the 184-pound East Stroudsburg University Open title (Nov. 6).
 
2015-16 (As a redshirt sophomore): Posted a 22-11 overall record and 13-4 mark in duals as a sophomore … went 0-2 at his first NCAA Championships (March 17-19) … had a strong Big Ten Championships for a fourth-place finish and automatic NCAA Championships qualifying bid (March 5-6) … handled No. 19 Abram Ayala (Princeton), 7-1, to open RU’s 28-6 win over the Tigers (Jan. 31) … cruised to an 11-3 major decision against Minnesota’s Christopher Pfarr (Jan. 17) … finished eighth at the 53^rd Annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships  with a 4-3 outing (Dec. 29-30) … earned the first ranking of his career at No. 20 by Intermat following an upset win … won his first match against a ranked opponent with a 3-2 victory over No. 4 T.J. Dudley at the RAC to spark a 17-16 upset against No. 4 Nebraska (Dec. 12) … scored a fall in 4:54 against George Mason’s Austin Harrison at the “Grapple at the Garden” (Nov. 29) … picked up two wins in Corvallis, Ore., against Oregon State and Utah Valley (Nov. 21) … had a 2-1 day at the Journeymen/Asics Northeast Duals with a pair of decisions (Nov. 15) … went 2-0 with a tech fall and decision at the Rutgers Duals (Nov. 1) ... an Academic All-Big Ten selection. 
 
2014-14 (As a redshirt freshman): Ended the dual season with a 7-4 overall and 4-3 dual mark … placed second at the 82nd Annual Wilkes University Open with a 3-1 record (Dec. 28) … returned from injury with a 6-5 decision over Chandler Smith (Army) at the Third Annual “Grapple at the Garden” (Dec. 21) … went 3-0 in his first collegiate action at the Rutgers Duals, picking up a fall, tech fall and major decision (Nov. 2).

2013-14 (As a freshman): Redshirt season.