Maryland wrestling (8-6, 0-5 Big Ten) will look to snap its four-match losing streak at home Saturday afternoon against No. 23 Rutgers (9-5, 1-4 Big Ten).
The Terps are coming off a rough road trip where they went 0-3, dropping contests against then-No. 25 Illinois, then-No. 22 Michigan State and then-No. 3 Michigan. In all three of those matches, Maryland dealt with injuries and illnesses that kept out some of its top wrestlers.
No. 18 Braxton Brown will open things up for the Terps at 125. The redshirt freshman will look to return after missing the Michigan match due to illness. Brown has been unbeatable for the Terps in dual matches, with a perfect 13-0 record. He’ll look to stay undefeated in duals against No. 12 Dean Peterson, who holds a 19-5 overall record and is 9-2 in duals in his sophomore campaign.
At 133, the Terps will look for production from either sophomore Conner Quinn or redshirt senior King Sandoval. Quinn has competed for the Terps over the last month, but Sandoval recently made his return to try and give Maryland a boost at a weight class where they’ve struggled. Whoever the Terps send out will face No. 16 Joe Heilmann. The graduate student is 19-6 with a 9-4 dual record.
Coach Alex Clemsen hinted at Sandoval returning this week.
“[We] may have a new face in the lineup as well, pumped for that, so make sure you show out,” Clemson said.
Freshman Kal Miller will wrestle for Maryland at 141. Miller has had some rough matches as of late, dropping four straight decisions by razor-thin margins against tough competition. Rutgers will send out No. 18 Joseph Olivieri, who has a 12-3 overall record with three pin wins in duals in his sophomore season.
No. 18 Ethen Miller will compete for the Terps at 149. The redshirt freshman has been having a productive season for the Terps, with a 21-5 record including six technical fall wins. Miller’s opponent is sophomore Anthony White, with an 11-8 record and a 1-4 mark in Big Ten matches.
No. 32 Michael North looks to make his return for Maryland at 157. The redshirt junior was in the middle of a breakout season before injuries forced him to miss the last few matches. North will go up against sophomore Andrew Clark. Clark has struggled for the Scarlet Knights in duals, with a 4-8 dual record along with an 0-5 record in Big Ten duals.
At 165, redshirt freshman John Martin Best will battle for the Terps. Best has been impressive over the last week, with competitive matches against some of the nation’s best. In Maryland’s last match, Best came away with his first college pin in a dominant performance. He’ll look to carry this momentum over against the 3-3 Robert Kanniard. The redshirt sophomore is still looking for his first Big Ten dual win.
Sophomore Dominic Solis will continue to hold things down for Maryland at 174. Solis has been slumping recently for Maryland, dropping his last four matches. He’ll look to break out against Jackson Turley. The junior is 7-7 with a Big Ten record of 2-3 in duals.
At 184, sophomore Chase Mielnik will wrestle for the Terps. Mielnik has now dropped 11 straight dual matches, with a majority of his opponents overpowering him on their way to majority decisions or fall victories. Mielnik will try to get back in the win column against No. 15 Brian Soldano. The freshman is 17-6 with a 11-3 record in dual meets.
At 197, No. 13 Jaxon Smith will look to rejoin the Terps lineup. The redshirt freshman has been dealing with lingering injuries that have kept him out of Maryland’s most recent matches. Smith would face redshirt junior Billy Janzer if he competes. Janzer holds a 5-8 dual record and is 2-3 in Big Ten action.
No. 27 Jaron Smith will close things out for the Terps at heavyweight. The graduate student had a solid road trip, going 2-1 while picking up his second pin win of the season. Smith’s opponent, No. 26 Boone McDermott, is 12-2 and 6-0 in duals in his redshirt junior season.
“I’m just excited to see some of our guys who have been out of the lineup back in,” Clemsen said.
Action will begin at 2 p.m at the XFINITY Center Pavilion in College Park.
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