Published in GameDay Magazine on Oct. 23.

By Kevin Foley
Athletic Media Relations

For the most part, Brandon York is an average college student at the University of Maryland. He religiously goes to class, eats his meals in the dining hall and lives in the dorm. Each afternoon, he walks across campus to Cole Field House to practice in the dark and dreary wrestling room where, suddenly, he becomes quite above average. Yet, for someone who is an NCAA qualifier in a sport that requires extreme physical and mental strength, that might be an understatement.

While the basketball team steamed through a very publicized season last year, Brandon quietly went about his work to win the ACC title in 133-pound weight class. But this was more than just another average championship, York won the title in his first year of collegiate wrestling. In fact, only five Terps have ever won three career conference titles and this places a weight on York's shoulders to become the first-ever "four-in-four" Maryland wrestler.

"People always say that I could be a four-timer, but I remind them that I haven't even made the starting team yet this year," he says. "I will certainly try as hard as I can, but it won't be like floating on a feather all the way to the finals."

This season, York will have company in the spotlight as sophomores Mark Mansueto and Josh Weidman return to the starting lineup from redshirt seasons. While Mansueto took fifth in the East Stroudsburg Open last November, Weidman compiled an impressive 20-4 record, including runner-up performances at both the West Virginia and Penn State opens. Newcomer Jeremy Duncan, an All-American heavyweight from Missouri, is also expected to make a strong run in the ACC.

For York, his success has been bittersweet after having to redshirt in 1997 when he was beaten out for a starting spot. A two-time state high school champion, York recorded a startling 100-8 career record at Damascus. He was a heralded recruit, but knew that it meant nothing when his college season started.

"I figured it was going to be a big change since it was not like I was competing against a group of area wrestlers," he recalls. "When I didn't win in the wrestle-off, I wasn't disappointed because I still had four more years here.

He spent the off-season working out with the other Terps in practices and improving his strength. By the time his second season started, York was ready to make the most out of the opportunity. In his first match, during the Coppin Open, he pinned Howard's Dwayne St. Hill in under two minutes. That confidence started him on the road to winning 16 of his next 17 matches including titles at the Coppin and Penn State opens.

"At Penn State, there were a lot of probable All-Americans-including one guy who was a Division II national champion-but I never thought about the (Penn State) title until I started winning deep in the tournament," he grins. "The win put me in a different mindset."

On March 6, York completed his ACC season with a win over Brad Byers of North Carolina, an opponent who had decisioned him earlier in the year by a convincing 8-2 score.

"We were tied up in the second period and I pulled him for two quick back points, but right then and there I knew that I had control of the match," he remembers. "It was just like a second wind and once I realized that I had the match, all of my energy just pumped right up."

With Maryland hosting the ACC Wrestling Championships on March 4 in Cole Field House, Brandon hopes to hold onto that intensity to win a second conference title. Maybe then, even in a sport with such little publicity, he can walk across campus and be recognized for his achievements.

Brandon York won his second ACC title on March 4 in Cole Field House, once again defeating Brad Byers in the finals. He makes his second trip to the NCAA championships this weekend.