RECAP: Maryland wrestling secures first ranked win since 20-13 with 18-16 win over No. 16 Pittsburgh

Maryland wrestling has had its ups-and-downs since joining the Big Ten. This year’s team may have turned the corner, as the Terps upset No. 16 Pittsburgh, 18-16, for their first ranked win since 2013. 

The victory was a huge statement that put the rest of the Big Ten on notice. 

Redshirt freshman Braxton Brown once again gave the Terps a strong start while facing redshirt junior Colton Camacho at 125. Camacho got an early takedown that gave him a 2-1 lead after one, but Brown got a big reversal in the second that led to a pin to put Maryland up 6-0. 

At 133, redshirt freshman Jackson Cockrell faced No. 8 Micky Phillippi. Cockrell and Phillippi were even after one, but the redshirt senior took the next two periods en route to a 5-1 decision win, reducing Maryland’s lead to 6-3. 

Next up for the Terps was Kal Miller at 141. The freshman looked to stay undefeated against an incredibly tough matchup in No. 1 Cole Matthews. Matthews and Miller were knotted at one after the first two periods, but the redshirt senior took it in the third with a 5-1 decision win. Miller’s first loss of the season tied things up at 6. 

Ethen Miller righted the ship for the Terps against redshirt sophomore Tyler Badgett. Miller took an early 2-1 lead and never looked back, building his lead with takedowns to take a 9-4 decision and give Maryland a 9-6 lead. 

Michael North took on No. 11 Dazjon Casto at 157. The redshirt junior fell behind against Casto, 6-1, but fought back and sent the bout to sudden victory overtime. There, with all the momentum on his side, North secured the takedown to get a massive victory for the Terps. North’s huge upset win gave the Terps a 12-6 lead. 

At 165, redshirt junior Lucas Cordio replaced John Martin Best in the lineup and faced No. 14 Holden Heller. Heller controlled Cordio early, going up 6-2 after one. Heller did not relinquish the lead, taking a 12-4 major decision to shrink Maryland’s lead down to 12-10. 

Dominic Solis returned to the lineup for the Terps at 174 against redshirt freshman Luca Augustine. The sophomore led 1-0 after two, but Augustine received an escape point to tie the match at one and send it to another overtime. The sophomore showed his experience, getting the sudden victory takedown to win a 3-1 decision and give the Terps a 15-10 lead. 

Chase Mielnik wrestled at 184 against No. 13 Reece Heller. Heller took an early 9-3 lead against the sophomore, and then controlled the rest of the match in the form of a 10-4 decision win. That shrunk Maryland’s lead down to two points entering the final two matchups of the night. 

Jaxon Smith took on No. 9 Nino Bonaccorsi at 197. The usually dominant Smith fell behind early, and Bonaccorsi did not relinquish the lead. He took the 8-2 decision over Smith, putting the Panthers up 16-15 and putting the meet in the hands of Jaron Smith. 

Jaron Smith faced Jake Slinger in the final match of the night. Smith dominated the senior, controlling him throughout to get the 6-1 decision win. The graduate student gave the Terps the 18-16 win with the impressive showing. 

After the huge win, the Terps will now have a break, as their next match comes at Navy on Dec. 11.