By Ryan Homler (@RHomler)

Maryland took to the mats Sunday in the Terps first Big Ten match of the season against No. 12 Rutgers. Even with a few victories throughout the bout, the Terrapins fell to the Scarlet Knights by a team decision 21-13.

Maryland got off to a shaky start losing three consecutive matches to begin the afternoon, but two key victories by No. 12 Alfred Bannister and Justin Alexander helped keep the match close. In a matchup of ranked opponents, Bannister held off No. 15 Ken Theobold in a low scoring affair. A key takedown during the beginning of the third period of the match proved to be a key turning point, as Baby J was able to hold off Theobald during the remaining minutes. It was Theobold’s first dual match loss of the season.

Unranked Alexander also had a huge win over Rutger’s No. 20 John Van Brill. A six-point combo for the Terp was enough for Alexander to earn his first victory over a ranked opponent on the season.  

However, three straight victories for Rutgers followed and all but clinched a victory for the ranked team. Even with the loss, two late wins for Maryland by David-Brian Whisler and Youssif Hemida were bright spots for the Terps.

Whisler finished the weekend at 3-0 after defeating Matthew Correnti 8-0 at 184 pounds. Whisler’s use of lockdown defense helped the redshirt freshman from Ohio improve to 10-2 on the season.

In the final bout of the day, Hemida won a 9-3 decision over Marc McDonald at 285 pounds after executing a clutch takedown/near fall combo when the match was tied at two a piece. Hemida’s match was considered to be his most impressive of the season.

After finishing this weekend with a 1-2 record, the Terps have a small break before some entries compete at the Wilkes Open on December 22. Maryland, as a team, takes action again at the Midlands Championships (December 29-30) in Evanston, Illinois.