Preview: Maryland wrestling looks to rebound against No. 25 Ilinois

Maryland wrestling (8-3, 0-2 Big Ten) travels to Champaign, Illinois this Sunday for a matchup against No. 25 Illinois (4-4, 2-2 Big Ten). 

The Terps are coming off a rough loss at home against No. 7 Ohio State. In that match, Maryland’s only points came from a Braxton Brown fall victory. The Terps will look for a bounceback performance against the Fighting Illini. 

Brown will try to keep rolling for the Terps at 125, facing off with redshirt freshman Maximo Renteria. Ranked at No. 18, the redshirt freshman has been a beast in dual matches this season, with an 11-0 record in all duals and tons of fall and majority decision wins. Renteria, who has a 3-7 overall record, is coming off a majority decision loss in Illinois’s last match against Northwestern. 

At 133, Maryland will look from production from either redshirt freshman Jackson Cockrell or sophomore Conner Quinn. Both Quinn and Cockrell have struggled immensely this season, with one combined win in seventeen matches. Their projected opponent, No. 10 Lucas Byrd, is a two time All-American with an 18-3 record on the season. 

Kal Miller will represent the Terps at 141. Miller is having a solid freshman campaign, with an 11-7 record and lots of great scraps against talented competition. Miller will match up with No. 14 Danny Pucino, who has a 12-5 record in his redshirt freshman season. 

At 149, No. 18 Ethen Miller will wrestle for Maryland. The redshirt freshman is having an excellent season, with a 20-5 record that includes plenty of wins against talented wrestlers. Miller is coming off a tough match with No. 3 Sammy Sasso, where he lost a majority decision. Illinois will most likely send out Jake Harrier. Harrier holds a 4-10 record as a redshirt freshman. 

No. 32 Michael North will come out for the Terps at 157. The redshirt junior has been huge for Maryland this season, with a 14-4 record and multiple ranked wins in duals. North will face either sophomore Anthony Federico or No. 20 Mike Carr. Federico, who has a 5-10 record this season, has been the go-to for the Fighting Illini in recent weeks. 

Redshirt freshman John Martin Best will compete for Maryland at 165. Best has proved himself capable of hanging with the best in his division, with plenty of close bouts against ranked wrestlers on his way to an 8-10 record. Best’s opponent, No. 11 Danny Braunagel, has a 16-6 record on the season. 

At 174, sophomore Dominic Solis continues to represent the Terps. Solis has been a consistent presence in the lineup, with plenty of tough wins on his way to a 9-5 record. Solis will go up against No. 10 Edmond Ruth. The redshirt sophomore holds an excellent 21-1 record this season. 

Sophomore Chase Mielnik will battle for Maryland at 184. Mielnik has had some rough outings in recent action, and he’s currently on a losing streak that has dropped his record down to 4-13. Mielnik will try to get back on track against No. 26 Dylan Connell. The redshirt freshman has a 15-10 record and is coming off a decision win in his last outing. 

No. 15 Jaxon Smith will wrestle for the Terps at 197. The redshirt freshman is in the middle of a breakout season, with a 13-5 record and plenty of wins against top-ranked competition. Smith will go up against No. 11 Zac Braunagel. Smith has competed against the redshirt junior before, getting the win by pin at the Tiger Style Invite. 

Maryland will close things out with No. 29 Jaron Smith at heavyweight. The graduate student has been an important piece in this Terps lineup, with plenty of wins that demonstrate his skill and experience. Smith will wrestle against redshirt senior Matt Wroblewski, who has a 10-11 record on the year. 

Action will get underway at 3:00 p.m at the State Farm Center.