By: Juan Herrera
The University of Maryland wrestling team kicked off the dual meet season Sunday, when the Terps took on Lock Haven University and the University of Virginia on the road in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The Terps started off the day by taking on Lock Haven. The last time these two teams met was in 1992, where the Bald Eagles picked up a 25-9 win.
After junior Michael Beck lost to Lock Haven’s Jake Field, 12-2 by major decision, No. 12 Tyler Goodwin took on Lewis Williams at the 133-pound weight class. Goodwin was aggressive from the start and it only took him a minute and 45 seconds to pin his opponent.
With Maryland leading 6-4, redshirt senior Billy Rappo lost to Lock Haven’s No. 20 Ronnie Perry at the 141-pound weight class.
Next at 149-pounds, No. 17 Alfred Bannister defeated Kyle Shoop in a very close match. Bannister had a 9-2 lead in the final period, but Shoop battled back to get within two points. The Maryland wrestler held on to win the match 9-7, and gave Maryland a 9-7 lead in the match.
The biggest surprise of the night came from redshirt freshman Danny Boychuck, who pinned Lock Haven’s Kyle Hammond in the third period. This was Boychuck’s first ever-dual win. His victory gave Maryland a 15-7 lead.
After Maryland and Lock Haven swapped wins at the 165 and 174-pound weight classes, Maryland had an 18-10 team score lead. Lock Haven was able to cut the lead to four points after Corey Hazel defeated Maryland’s redshirt freshman Idris White by a major decision.
In the final two matches of the meet, Lock Haven’s Tristan Sponseller and heavyweight Thomas Haines defeated David-Brian Whinsler and Youssif Hemida to give their team six points. With those points Lock Haven pulled off the comeback and beat Maryland 20-18.
After Virginia beat Lock Haven 24-16, the Terps closed the meet by taking on the Cavaliers. The match started at the 125-pound weight class where Maryland freshman Alex Vargas made his dual meet debut against Virginia’s Jack Mueller.
Mueller, who was 6-0 prior to the match, outwrestled Vargas. The Cavalier freshman took a 12-2 lead at the start of the second period and later secured a 17-2 technical fall to win the match and give his team a 5-0 lead.
In the next match, Goodwin was able to get Maryland on the board after he beat Virginia’s William Mason 8-0 at the 133-pound weight class. However Virginia would add onto their lead after No. 10 George DiCamillo beat Rappo 8-1 to give the Cavaliers a 9-4 lead.
The next bout at the 149-pound weight class was perhaps the most exciting match of the night. Bannister and Virginia’s Sam Krivus battled back and forth but neither man could get a takedown. With the score tied 1-1, the match went to overtime where Bannister won after an escape.
The next four matches in the bout all went Virginia’s way, but the match at the 197-pound weight class was better for Maryland.
At 197, David-Brian Whisler pulled off a comeback against Virginia’s Chance McClure after he threw him on the mat for a takedown and four near fall points. Whisler won the match 7-4. Maryland trailed Virginia by 12 points.
In the final bout of the day, Maryland heavyweight Youssif Hemida wrestled Virginia’s Chuck Boddy. Neither man could score a takedown in regular time, so the match went to sudden victory overtime where Hemida took down Boddy to win the match.
The final score of the meet was Virginia 22, Maryland 13. Although the Terps lost both matches, there were still plenty of bright spots, including Bannister and Goodwin’s performances.
The Terps travel to New York City on November 27 for the fifth annual Grapple at the Garden at Madison Square Garden. They will take on Princeton at 10:30 a.m. and Columbia at 12:30 p.m.
