GREENVILLE — Referring to Nick Sutton as a late bloomer on the wrestling mat may be an accurate statement.

But he’s been making up for lost time.

The Butler graduate and Thiel College senior is closing in on 100 career wins — and a hopeful berth in the NCAA Division III Championships — with the Tomcats.

“He’s the hardest worker I’ve had in my 13 years with the program,” Thiel wrestling coach Craig Thurber said. “I always see him in the weight room, lifting, running, doing cardio workouts.

“Nick does these box jumps ... It’s unbelievable how high that kid can jump.”

Sutton is 12-4 at 149 pounds for Thiel so far this season. His collegiate career record is 83-51. That compares to 69-53 in high school.

Sutton was only 34-43 entering his senior year with the Golden Tornado, when he produced a 35-10 record.

“After my junior year (8-7), I wasn’t even thinking about wrestling in college,” Sutton admitted. “Then, suddenly my senior year ... I just got it.”

Now he’s trying to get something else — a trip to the national tournament.

The top three wrestlers in each weight class of the Mideast Regional advance to the Division III Championships. Thurber has sent a Thiel wrestler to nationals in all 12 years he’s been the head coach.

But Sutton has yet to be one of them.

“Nick has come so close — no one deserves it more,” the coach said.

Sutton lost a 6-5 decision in the Mideast Regional consolation finals at 133 pounds as a freshman. He lost in the consolation finals at 141 pounds as a sophomore.

Last year, he was seeded third at 141 pounds, but suffered upset losses in the quarterfinal and consolation rounds.

“This is my last shot and I feel good about my chances,” Sutton said. “You have to learn from the past and move forward. It didn’t work out for me before.”

While Sutton has stayed healthy throughout his collegiate career, he admits the wear and tear of wrestling has taken its toll.

“You protect your body the best you can, but I wake up in the morning feeling my knees, my shoulder, my back,” Sutton said. “It’s my senior year and the (wear and tear) is starting to hit me.

“I never thought I’d be able to have this kind of success in college. I want to go out big. I want the 100 wins. I want to end with a flourish.”

And Thurber is in his corner.

“It’s the nature of this sport. Sometimes you just don’t make it through (to nationals),” the coach said. “But Nick just continues to work at it. I’m hopeful he can do it this year. Through four years with us, knock on wood, he hasn’t been injured, hasn’t missed an event, not even a practice. That is extremely rare.

“He’s the type of kid no one wants to wrestle. He’s got the long arms, long legs and he’s aggressive. His work ethic and attitude make him stand out. Even in our (wrestling) room, the other guys tell me how tough he is.”

Carrying a 3.0 grade point average as a business major, Sutton is scheduled to graduate in May. He plans to pursue graduate school elsewhere and be a graduate assistant wrestling coach wherever he goes.

“I’m looking into a couple of options there,” he said. “I want to continue to use this sport to further my education.”

And help further the wrestling careers of others at the same time.

“He’d be fantastic at it,” Thurber said of Sutton’s coaching prospects. “We’ve already talked to a couple of coaches who have graduate assistant positions open.

“Nick’s knowledge of the sport, his drive and persistence, plus his own personal story — he’d be a great coach.”