Preview: Maryland wrestling looks to continue hot start to season in Tiger Style Invite

Maryland wrestling looks to build off its strong start to the season this weekend as the Terps head to Missouri to participate in the Tiger Style Invite on Saturday. At the invite, the Terps will compete against Cal Poly, Drexel, Illinois, Little Rock and Missouri. 

“It’ll be a good uptick in competition,” coach Alex Clemsen said. “We’ll see lots of great matchups up and down the lineup across the board. Should be a great weekend of wrestling.” 

Maryland started its season 3-0 with wins over American, Duke, and Bloomsburg. The Tiger Style Invite is an opportunity to carry over that momentum against a stronger group of opponents, as Missouri ranks No. 3 in the NWCA Coaches Poll and Cal Poly ranks No. 25.

Redshirt freshman Braxton Brown, coming off of a 3-0 start that included two decisions and a win by fall, looks to keep rolling for the Terps at 125. Brown is set to face stiff competition, with potential matchups against Missouri redshirt sophomore Noah Surtin, Illinois redshirt junior Justin Cardani from Illinois and Cal Poly redshirt sophomore Antonio Lorenzo.

Redshirt freshman Jackson Cockrell will try to get back on track after a 1-2 start to the season at 133. Potential ranked opponents for Cockrell are Illinois redshirt sophomore Lucas Byrd and Missouri redshirt senior Connor Brown.

Freshman Kal Miller will represent the Terps at 141. Miller had an impressive debut, going 3-0 with three decision wins. A potential matchup with Missouri redshirt senior Allan Hart, the only other ranked wrestler in Miller’s weight class at the Tiger Style Invite, may pose a challenge for the true freshman. 

Redshirt freshman Ethen Miller had a strong showing in the first three matches, obtaining two technical fall wins and one major decision at 149. Miller has his work cut out for him on Saturday, with three ranked potential opponents in Missouri redshirt junior Brock Mauller, Cal Poly sixth year Dom Demas and Drexel junior Luke Nichter from Drexel.

Michael North will wrestle for the Terps at 157. The redshirt junior, another undefeated Terp, hopes to keep it that way in one of the Tiger Style Invite’s less stacked divisions. The only potential ranked opponent is Missouri senior Jarrett Jacques, who holds a rank of No. 15.

Maryland will wrestle John Martin Best at 165. The redshirt freshman started the season 2-0, coming off an ACL injury that kept him out for the latter part of the 2021-22 campaign. Best has some talented potential opponents in Missouri sophomore Keegan O’Toole, Illinois redshirt junior Danny Braunagel, Cal Poly redshirt sophomore Legend Lamer and Drexel graduate student Evan Barczak, all of whom are ranked.

At 174, Dominic Solis will take the mat for the Terps. The sophomore took care of business in Maryland’s first three matches, going 3-0 with three decision wins. Solis looks to continue his hot start against a step up in opponents, as Missouri redshirt junior Peyton Mocco, Drexel redshirt senior Mickey O’Malley, Illinois redshirt sophomore Edmund Rut and Little Rock redshirt junior Triston Wills all are ranked.

184 is a question mark for the Terps due to Kevin Makosy’s injury. The redshirt junior was 2-0 before he suffered what appeared to be a painful arm injury that forced him to forfeit his final match. Freshmans Larry Vola and Anthony Bradley and sophomore Chase Mielnik are all potential replacements. 

Redshirt freshman Jaxon Smith looks to continue dominating at 197. Smith looked unstoppable with a win by fall and two major decision wins in the opening weekend, but didn’t face anyone as talented as his possible opponents this weekend. Missouri sophomore Rocky Elam, Cal Poly redshirt junior Bernie Traux and Illinois redshirt junior Zac Braunagel are all ranked above Smith on Flowrestling’s rankings.

Jaron Smith will wrestle for Maryland at heavyweight. The graduate student continues to adjust to the new weight class, but his 3-0 season start shows that his talent, strength and experience translates smoothly to the heavier division. Smith’s only ranked potential opponent is Missouri redshirt junior Zach Elam.

“We’re excited to get back to the midwest and show off the new look Terps,” coach Clemsen said.