2019-20 Wrestling Roster
Roster
Niko Cappello
- Position:
- 197 pounds
- Weight:
- 197
- Class:
- Redshirt Junior
- Hometown:
- Cranford, N.J.
- High School:
- Cranford
As a Redshirt Junior (2019-20): Represented Maryland in the dual lineup at 197 pounds in 5 of 19 dual matches...made his season debut at the Cavalier Duals (11/2)...earned a win over Penn State’s Austin Hoopes at the Black Knight Invite (11/17)...posted two victories at the Patriot Open over Sacred Heart’s Vincent Mattaliano and Rider’s Zack Scheffler (12/7)...beat Bucknell’s Luke Niemeyer at the F&M Open (1/4)...appeared in the Big Ten dual lineup vs. Purdue (1/24), Ohio State (1/31), and Penn State (2/2)
As a Redshirt Sophomore (2018-19): Served as Maryland's primary starter at 197 pounds...picked up a win by fall in the first period of a match at the Princeton Open (11/4)...won by fall over Matthew Hester at the ESU Open (11/10)...won first-career dual match by decision in Maryland's match against Rutgers (2/22).
As a Redshirt Freshman (2017-18): Won his first match of the season with a 7-3 decision over Willem DeBoer of Cal Poly at the Road Runner Open (11/19)...finished first in the 184-pound bracket at the Messiah Open after posting a 4-0 record (2/3).
As a Freshman (2016-17): Won 12 matches at 174 pounds during first collegiate season while serving redshirt year…pinned five opponents…won first career match by fall, pinning Chance Mariotti (Shorter) in 3:00 at Southeast Open (11/6)…won twice at the Bearcat Open, including a pin (11/13)…won three matches at the Mat Town Open, including a fall over Buffalo’s Cameron Caldarelli (11/27)…won opening round match at F&M Open by fall over Henry Kamornik (Binghamton) in 1:18 (1/7)…won in sudden victory over Anthony Vetrano (Bloomsburg), 7-7 at Shorty Hitchcock Open (1/14)…pinned two opponents at Messiah Open while winning three matches in total (2/4)…beat Blake Sutherland (Old Dominion) at National Collegiate Open (2/26).
Before Maryland: NJ state place winner (7th)...three-time NHSCA All-American (4th, 3rd, 6th)...four-time District 11 Champion...two-time Region 3 Champion...three-time All-Union County Interscholastic Athletic Conference)...92-24 overall record before starting senior campaign...also played football finishing with 263 career tackles and 12.5 sacks...football team won 2015 state title.
Personal: Son of Scott and Tina Cappello...has a younger brother Anthony...lists sports hero as Luke Kuechly...chose Maryland for the academics and athletics...pregame meal is a roast beef sandwich...advice to youngsters is to always work hard...majoring in letters and sciences.
