Maryland wrestling dominated by Michigan in first Big Ten dual, 38-3

Maryland wrestling was without three of its usual starters against Michigan in its first Big Ten dual of the season. Kal Miller, Dominic Solis and Seth Nevills were all absent from the lineup as the Terps fell to the Wolverines, 38-3.

Redshirt sophomore Braxton Brown came out of the gate aggressive against Wolverines redshirt junior Dylan Ragusin. After a scoreless first period, Brown gave up an escape and a takedown and could not make up the difference in the third period.

True freshman Dario Lemus was unable to keep it close against Michigan freshman Sergio Lemley, giving up a 19-6 technical fall midway through the second period. Lemus managed one takedown throughout the bout, but Lemley was thoroughly in control, chaining together takedowns seconds apart from each other.

Redshirt sophomore Ethen Miller was two points away from getting Maryland on the board, but graduate Wolverines wrestler Austin Gomez pulled away in the third period to secure a 10-6 decision in the 157 pound bout. Miller scored an escape in the second period to bring the score to 7-5, but an early takedown and some defensive wrestling from Gomez put the bout out of reach.

Redshirt senior Michael North found himself on the wrong end of a shutout against Michigan redshirt sophomore Zack Mattin, giving up a 5-0 decision. Mattin opted for the down position to start the second period after scoring a takedown on North, hoping to add to his lead with an escape point. However, the frame ended without any scoring after North held onto Mattin for the entire two minutes, denying him the point. He couldn’t keep up the same levels of defense in the third period, allowing a two-count near fall to end the match.

True freshman Ryan Money made his dual meet debut as a Terp against redshirt senior Cameron Amine, but the match did not get out of the first period. A little over a minute into the fight, Amine put Money on his back for the fall.

Redshirt sophomore Gaven Bell was unable to snap the Terps’ skid, falling by major decision to graduate student Shane Griffith in the 174 pound fight. The highlight of the bout for Bell was a reversal in the second period, but he was overpowered throughout and gave up 11 points.

The onslaught continued with Chase Mielnik’s 5-1 decision loss against redshirt junior Jaden Bullock in the 184 pound bout.

The Terps had not led in a single bout at any point going into the 197 pound fight, but redshirt sophomore Jaxon Smith ended that slump and finally got Maryland on the board, defeating graduate student Bobby Striggow 5-2. The two wrestlers did little more than trade escapes after the first period, in which Smith put Striggow in a sitting position for the lone takedown of the bout.

Senior Jordan Gabriel, wrestling in Seth Nevills’ usual heavyweight slot, ended up on his back after a forceful throwdown from graduate student Lucas Davidson and lost by fall. Midway through the second period, Gabriel was attempting to escape from Davidson’s initial up position hold, and both wrestlers made it to their feet. Gabriel fended off an attempt from Davidson to throw him down to the mat, but he landed on his back on the second effort, allowing Davidson to pin his shoulders.

Redshirt sophomore Tommy Capul closed out the night on the wrong end of a technical fall against graduate wrestler Michael DeAugustino. Capul staved off the tech fall until the third frame, scoring a fan-galvanizing reversal in the process.

Coach Alex Clemsen made it clear that he was not happy with the result, despite missing three starters.

“My expectation is always to win,” Clemsen said. “I don’t do this for shits and giggles. It’s like the words on the wall say, expect to win. They’re not up there for reading material. I want to beat everyone, I’m not having fun tonight.”

Clemsen also suggested he wanted to see a greater level of effort from his wrestlers, both in practice and during matches.

“You have to keep putting your foot down and keep getting off and keep battling,” Clemsen said. “I think at times we take our foot off the gas because we think it’s okay, or because we’re dominating in the [practice] room, or because we don’t feel good or whatever. And we’re making bad choices and that’s the result.”

The Terps will have short rest as they look to get back into the win column Sunday at home against Northwestern.