Maryland wrestling (8-2, 0-1 Big Ten) has a tough task ahead on Friday, facing off against No. 7 Ohio State (8-1, 2-0 Big Ten). The Terps are still looking for their first Big Ten win since 2016.
The Terps last competed at the Virginia Duals, where they went 3-1 with wins over Oklahoma, Ohio and Virginia. The one loss was a close contest against Campbell. Maryland was ranked No. 23 in the previous week, but the Terps’ performance at the Virginia Duals caused them to drop out of the top 25.
No. 18 Braxton Brown will look to stay hot for the Terps in a matchup with No. 9 Malik Heinselman at 125. The redshirt freshman has been phenomenal for the Terps, with a 15-2 overall record and a 10-0 record in all dual matches. Brown’s opponent, Heinselman, is a talented and experienced wrestler. The senior is in the middle of his best collegiate season, and the battle should be a great one between two of the nation’s best at 125.
Redshirt freshman Jackson Cockrell or sophomore Conner Quinn will represent the Terps against No. 9 Jesse Mendez. In recent action, the Terps have been riding with Quinn, who is winless on the year. Cockrell has had similar struggles, with just one win in six matches. Their opponent, the freshman Mendez, has an 8-1 record and just recently entered the top 10 in the rankings.
Freshman Kal Miller will wrestle for Maryland at 141. Miller has been impressive this season, with an 11-6 record and close contests against top competition. Miller’s opponent, redshirt junior No. 18 Dylan D’Emilio, has a 9-6 record on the season as well as a solid career resume with activities ranging from Big Ten success to the U23 Freestyle World Team Trials.
At 149, No. 18 Ethen Miller will face redshirt senior No. 3 Sammy Sasso in a battle between powerhouses. The redshirt freshman has been one of the most active Terps this season, with a 20-4 record that includes wins over elite competition. Sasso has dominated almost all competition during his Ohio State career, and Miller will try to give him his 13th collegiate loss instead of his 101st collegiate win.
No. 32 Michael North will compete for Maryland at 157. The redshirt junior has continued his breakout season into 2023, rising back into the rankings after his most recent performance at the Virginia Duals. North will match up with redshirt freshman No. 22 Paddy Gallagher, who has a 7-2 record along with a 3-1 record in dual meet action this season.
At 165, the Terps will send out either redshirt freshman John Martin Best or redshirt junior Lucas Cordio. Best has been the most recent answer for coach Alex Clemsen, with an 8-9 record that includes lots of close contests. Whoever Maryland sends out will have to deal with redshirt junior No. 8 Carson Kharchla, who holds a 6-1 record and a 3-0 record in dual meets.
Dominic Solis will keep battling for the Terps at 174. Solis, who has a 9-4 record on the season, is coming off a 3-1 weekend at the Virginia Duals that included a ranked win. The sophomore will face redshirt senior No. 8 Ethan Smith, who has a 13-3 record that includes multiple ranked wins.
Chase Mielnik will have his hands full at 184 in a matchup against No. 5 Kaleb Romero. The sophomore has struggled as of late, with an 0-4 performance at the Virginia Duals that included three majority decision losses. He’ll have a tough time trying to right the ship against the redshirt senior, who has a 16-3 record this season.
No. 16 Jaxon Smith will continue to hold things down for the Terps at 197. The redshirt freshman fell in the rankings after an uncharacteristic 2-2 weekend at the Virginia Duals, where he suffered both losses in sudden victory. Smith will look to get back in the win column against redshirt senior No. 23 Gavin Hoffman, an experienced wrestler with a 12-4 record this season.
No. 29 Jaron Smith will close things out for the Terps at heavyweight. The graduate student has looked increasingly comfortable at heavyweight in recent weeks, with a string of strong performances that includes a meet-clinching fall win against Virginia. Smith will compete against redshirt senior No. 16 Tate Orndorff, a powerful wrestler who has pinned opponents in four out of his seven wins this season.
“I’m excited,” Clemsen said. “We’re gonna be right back in the Pav on Friday night against a really talented Ohio State squad.”
The match will begin at 7:00 pm in the XFINITY Center Pavilion in College Park.
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