Maryland's York Aims To Be The Best Ever
5/8/2000 8:00:00 AM | Wrestling
May 8, 2000
By David Lasky Athletic Media Relations
Despite being a two-time state champion and three-time regional champion from Damascus High School, Brandon York knew that wrestling at Maryland in the Atlantic Coast Conference would bring new challenges. He knew that even though he led his team to a state championship in his junior year, there was more to accomplish in college. His Eastern national championship and 100-8 career record would no longer mean anything.
"There's a tremendous difference between opponents in high school and college," says York. "In college, it's not people just going out for the team, they're on a mission and they've wrestled before." This led York to decide to redshirt after just a few tournament matches during his freshman year.
When he returned, he was a man on a mission. Using the experience he received from making the high school nationals and his first regular season in the ACC, York went on to become conference champion at 133 pounds.
"I don't know if I was the first ACC champion as a freshman here, but I knew everybody after that was talking about being a four-time ACC champion - it's kind of cool - but at the same time the pressure starts there," says York.
He captured his first ACC championship by avenging his regular season loss to Brad Byers of North Carolina with an 8-2 victory in the finals. "I knew that I've beat him before and this is a lot more important than dual meets and other tournaments," he says. "I told myself that I've really got to do something different."
During his freshman season, he was 8-3 in dual matches and won three tournaments. York defeated Maryland teammate Rob Takseraas to capture the Coppin Open. He also won the Millersville-Belles Invitational and the prestigious Penn State Open. His success was well earned.
"I work out a lot," he says. "I don't really watch videotapes too often, but I make sure I don't make any of the same mistakes twice." York concluded his freshman season by becoming the first Terp NCAA qualifier since 1997.
York continued his conference run by defending his title on his home turf at Cole Field House as a sophomore. "It was awesome, and I really liked it being here," he says. "It was great having my friends behind me."
He once again defeated Byers for his second consecutive ACC championship in his two years at Maryland. He came from the No. 3 seed in the tournament behind Byers and NC State's Lee Carroll to win the tournament.
He finished 7-1 in dual meets and equaled his freshman year total of three tournament titles by repeating at the Coppin Open and Penn State Open and adding the East Stroudsburg Open championship to his resume. He finished the season with a career-high 34 wins and concluded the season by becoming a back-to-back NCAA qualifier.
Now the two-time ACC champion and two-time NCAA qualifier has set even loftier goals.
"I want to place in the wrestling nationals," he says. "I haven't gotten a win out there yet, and I have to learn to beat those people to be an All-American."
