Preview: Maryland wrestling prepares for tough matchup against No. 3 Michigan

Maryland wrestling (8-5, 0-4 Big Ten) takes a short trip from East Lansing to Ann Arbor for a dual match with No. 3 Michigan (8-2, 3-2 Big Ten) Sunday afternoon. 

The Terps have struggled as of late, dropping their last three contests by wide margins. Maryland is dealing with multiple injuries while facing its toughest opponents so far this season, which is leading to one-sided losses. The Terps last competed against No. 22 Michigan State, where only two Maryland wrestlers got wins in a 37-9 blowout loss. 

No. 12 Braxton Brown will represent the Terps at 125. Brown has been unbeatable in dual matches this season, holding a perfect 13-0 record in duals. The redshirt freshman will be tested in his matchup with No. 15 Jack Medley. Medley is a skilled wrestler with an impressive collegiate resume as a graduate student, and he will do his best to snap Brown’s undefeated streak. 

At 133, sophomore Conner Quinn or redshirt freshman Jackson Cockrell will wrestle for Maryland. The Terps are desperate for any production at 133, where Cockrell and Quinn are a combined 1-18. Their opponent, No. 10 Dylan Ragusin, is 11-5 with a 7-3 record in duals. 

No. 33 Kal Miller will compete for the Terps at 141. The freshman has lost his last three matches, with two of his last three opponents being ranked in the top 25. However, all the losses have been close decisions where Miller held his own against skilled, experienced competition. He’ll look to get back in the win column against No. 17 Cole Mattin. The redshirt junior has a 12-6 record along with two fall wins. 

No. 20 Ethen Miller will look to return for the Terps at 149. Miller, who missed Maryland’s last dual, holds a 21-5 record with six technical fall wins on the year. If he’s able to compete, the redshirt freshman will face No. 16 Chance Lamer. Lamer is 10-3 and 6-1 in duals in his redshirt freshman campaign. 

At 157, Maryland will send out either No. 24 Michael North or redshirt freshman Kevin Schork. The redshirt junior North has missed the last three matches for the Terps, and Schork has struggled to replace him, losing all three matches. Michigan will send out No. 7 Will Lewan, who holds a 12-4 record and an 8-2 mark in dual action. 

Redshirt freshman John Martin Best will go out for the Terps at 165. Best has lost his last three matches, which have all been competitive decisions against top 25 opponents. It won’t get any easier for Best against Michigan, where he’ll face No. 5 Cameron Amine. The redshirt junior is a two time NCAA All-American with a 9-2 record this season. 

No. 33 Dominic Solis will continue to battle for Maryland at 174. Solis has had some tough luck as of late, losing his last three bouts by a combined six points. The sophomore will look to turn things around against Max Maylor. The redshirt senior is 14-4 with three combined fall and technical fall wins. 

Sophomore Chase Mielnik will wrestle for the Terps at 184. Mielnik has dropped his last 10 dual matches, with most of the losses coming in the form of falls or majority decisions. He’ll look to right the ship in a matchup with No. 7 Matt Finesilver, who holds a 15-5 record with 4 technical fall wins. 

Maryland will hope for No. 14 Jaxon Smith’s return at 197. The redshirt freshman was off to a phenomenal start to the season before lingering injuries forced him to sit out of Maryland’s last three matches. Smith would wrestle against redshirt sophomore Brendin Yatooma, who is 4-9 and 2-6 in duals. 

No. 25 Jaron Smith will close things out for the Terps at heavyweight. The graduate student is coming off a strong performance in Maryland’s dual with Michigan State, where he got his second fall victory of the season. Smith will have his work cut out for him against the nation’s top heavyweight in No. 1 Mason Parris. Parris is undefeated this season, with a 20-0 mark in all action and a 10-0 record in duals. 

Action will begin at 12 p.m. in Keen Arena.