Four Terp Wrestlers Named To Intermat's 2000-01 List Of Top Returnees
4/12/2000 8:00:00 AM | Wrestling
April 12, 2000
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland has placed four wrestlers on Intermat's 2000-01 list of top returning wrestlers. Juniors Brandon York (Gaithersburg, Md.) and Josh Weidman (Hershey, Pa.) were both NCAA qualifiers this past season while junior Joe Guzzio (Greensboro, N.C) and sophomore Sal Aquia (Baltimore, Md.) return to the starting lineup from redshirt seasons.
York, a two-time ACC champion at 133 pounds, is aiming to become the first Terp in history to win four conference titles during his career. He has defeated North Carolina's Brad Byers in each of the past two finals and the two are expected to vie for this year's title as well. A two-time NCAA qualifier, he is the team leader and solid All-America candidate for the next two seasons.
Weidman was the runner-up at 165 pounds, but is expected to challenge for every tournament title. Over the past two years, he has compiled a 48-13 record, including a 20-4 mark as a redshirt sophomore. He also earned third place at both the Millersville Belles Tournament and the Congressional Cup.
Aquia is one of the most explosive wrestlers on the team at 174 pounds. He finished the 1999-2000 season at 18-5 and notched the sixth most wins despite redshirting. His .783 win percentage also ranked second only to York (.810). In addition to placing in three of the four tournaments he entered, his year was highlighted by an 8-7 win over two-time ACC Champion Corey Bell of North Carolina in the semifinals of the East Stroudsburg Open.
Guzzio, whose brother Jim was an All-American in 1997, has competed in arguably the toughest weight class (125 pounds) over the past few seasons. He is extremely dominating with his experience and was the regular starter for the Terps in his first two years.
The Terps finished tied for second-place in the ACC this past season despite having five returning starters redshirt. Sophomores Bryan Robinovitz (Hillsborough, N.J.), Jake Stork (Mohrsville, Pa.) and Chad Masemer (Littlestown, Pa.) will also look to break back into the lineup, while Maryland's other two junior NCAA qualifiers, Mark Mansueto (West Chester, Pa.) and Rob Booth (Atco, N.J.) look to continue their breakthrough 1999-2000 seasons into next year.
