‘Fired Up’ -- Rini Seeks NCAA Wrestling Podium Run
1/12/2025 5:30:00 PM | Wrestling
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Angelo Rini is a Hoosier for the challenge, for the opportunity, for the chance to test himself against some of the nation's wrestling best.
He has done that, and more, in his first and what will be his only Indiana season.
"I'm super excited to compete against the best guys," Rini says. "That fires me up."
Rini, a transfer from New York's Columbia University, is ranked in the top-30 nationally at 133 pounds. He's 11-6 with one pin, two major decisions and three technical falls. He's challenged some of the nation's best, losing to No. 1 Ryan Crockham of Lehigh 10-5, and to No. 2 Lucas Byrd of Illinois 3-0.
He won the Navy Classic, beating then No. 14 Kurt Phipps of Bucknell 3-2 in the finals, and took second in the Sheridan Tournament in Pennsylvania.
"Seeing the way he competes, he can make a run at the NCAA tournament and finish his season the way he wants -- being on the podium," coach Angel Escobedo says.
Like Dan Fongaro last year, Rini transferred from Columbia. He had graduated and had one more year of eligibility, but couldn't wrestle for Columbia because the Ivy League doesn't allow master's students to compete.
Rini was intrigued by Fongaro's success as a Hoosier last year, when he went 22-9, won two in-season tournament titles, was ranked as high as No. 23 nationally, and went 1-2 in the NCAA tourney.
"Dan played a big role in me coming here," Rini says.
At Columbia, Rini was a 2023 NCAA tourney qualifier. He was positioned to do it again last year, opening 8-2 with victories over three ranked wrestlers, and rising to as high as No. 11 in the national rankings, before suffering a season-ending injury.
Rini wanted a final shot at national wrestling success, as well as work on his master's in finance.
"I entered the portal, and had five or schools I was looking at," he says. "What separated Indiana was that it was somewhere I could continue to get a good education and also really good wrestling.
"The Kelley School of Business was very attractive to me, and also having a chance to be on the podium in March by placing in the NCAA Tournament."
Escobedo, a former national champion and a four-time All-American for the Hoosiers, was a prime example of Indiana possibilities.
"I thought Indiana was the best place because Angel had done it already," Rini says. "If anybody knows how to get to the top level at the university you're at, it's Angel. Those were the main factors."
Escobedo says former Columbia coach Zach Tanelli, now associate head coach at Virginia Tech, gave Rini a strong recommendation.
"He said (Rini) will do wonders for you," Escobedo says. "He said he was an All-American guy.
"Last year, he started hot, and then got injured. A lot of people forgot about him, but he was in the back of my mind that this kid is really good. He could be one of the best in the country. Once he was in the portal, I was like, we have to get him."
Rini's father, Phil, was a successful college wrestler at Division III John Carroll University in Ohio. The younger Rini was drawn to the sport's emphasis on grittiness and tenacity.
"So much pride and work go into it," he says. "When you win, it feels so good."
Rini's college preparation included a successful run at Cleveland St. Edward, one of the nation's premiere high school programs. St. Edward won multiple team Ohio state championships during Rini's time there
"It was awesome," he says. "We have a lot of guys wrestling D-I and doing big things in college. It was cool to be part of that."
Cool didn't mean easy. Rini says some of the hardest practices he's ever had was at St. Edwards, which is coached by former Iowa All-American John Heffernan. Because he lived 45 minutes away from the school, he would get up at 6 in the morning to get to school and not return home until late each night.
"We would brawl," he says about the grueling practices. "I learned a lot about resiliency."
As a team, IU (4-2) jumped into the top-25, with its losses coming to No. 11 Illinois and No. 16 Rutgers. Against Rutgers, the Hoosiers won just two matches, but were positioned to win five more. That includes Rini's 6-5 loss to No. 17 Dyan Shawver.
Still ahead are matches with No. 4 Ohio State, No. 9 Nebraska, No. 10 Michigan, as well as a Friday night match at rival Purdue.
"In the locker room, I hear people talk about wanting to be national champions, wanting to face and beat top-ranked guys every weekend," Rini says. "A bunch of guys here expect to beat the best. That's something I take pride in. That's what is really cool about this program."
As far as individual improvement, Rini says he's focused on hand fighting, which is a big part of the Big Ten's physical nature.
"I can wrestle on the outside," Rini says. "I'm fast and can pull the trigger really fast. In the Big Ten, guys love to hand fight and are very physical. Improving my physicality and hand fighting are key for me. Wearing down guys with heavy hands, moving my feet, using a lot of good snap downs. It's all important."
Rini, who earned a bachelor's degree in economics at Columbia, says he already has a job lined up in investment banking in Columbus, Ohio. He'll spend a couple of months traveling with his girlfriend before starting in July.
"I want to enjoy a couple of months of freedom."
Players Mentioned
