By: Mason Lauron
After a 3-0 start to the season, Maryland wrestling looked to continue their momentum against Morgan State. Highlighted by a first round pin from redshirt senior Chase Mielnik, the Terps were able to pull off an impressive 43-3 victory Friday night.
In just 27 seconds, Mielnik was able to pin his opponent Eric Washington Jr. Mielnik’s win by fall increased Maryland’s team lead and put victory well in sight.
“Once I got into the match I expected he was gonna take that shot. I knew if I just kept my hands down I could put him in the position we ended up in,” Mielnik said.
The night started with two convincing tech fall wins by both Tyler Garvin and Braxton Brown for the Terps. Each pulled off impressive displays.
Garvin won his bout 17-2 and Brown one his allowing just one point to his opponent.
Dario Lemus followed them with an impressive first round performance and then he earned the Terps’ first fall of the night in the second round of his bout against Myrin Nixon.
The 149 pound match between Michael Pizzuto and Aaron Turner proved to be tougher for the Terps.
After three hard fought rounds between the two Pizzuto finished with a 2-0 win.
No. 14 Ethen Miller looked to complete the sweep of first half matches for Maryland. He did just that, securing a 19-4 win against Eric Tecson while notching six takedowns.
Heading into intermission, the Terps led 24-0, and things never slowed down.
John Martin Best came out of intermission and continued the momentum with 3 takedowns in the first period before winning the bout 20-5 against Sam Diggs.
Trailing 29-0, Morgan State was looking for a spark from their 174 pound wrestler Darrien Robers against Branson John. It was a highly competitive match throughout and both the Maryland crowd and Morgan State players cheered for their wrestler.
With just 20 seconds left, it looked like Branson John would come out on top leading 2-0. Robers’ ended that assumption by gaining position on John and pulling off a takedown just as the clock was about to expire giving Morgan State its first win on the night.
Although Morgan State appeared to have some momentum, the duo of No. 6 Jaxon Smith’s 22-6 win and the aforementioned Mielnik pin led to a 40-3 Maryland lead heading into the final bout.
The battle of the heavyweights between No. 15 Seth Nevills and Xavier Doolin was very competitive. Both were patient to start off, resulting in a neutral first period. After an early escape by Nevills in the second period, Doolin was able to pull ahead with a takedown. Following Nevills’ second escape, the score was notched at 3-2 entering the final period.
Nevills scored an early takedown and held off Doolin in the final minutes securing another 3 points for the Terps.
The 43 points were the most scored in a single meet for the program since 2014.
“I’m proud of the work our kids are putting in and them buying into the mentality” head coach Alex Clemsen said after the game.
Maryland will look to build on their hot start on December 8 against George Mason.
