Oct. 25, 2006

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Senior Jerry Afari and junior Charlie Pinto have been named captains for the 2006-07 Maryland wrestling team. Afari owned an overall record of 16-13 last season and Pinto redshirted the year after suffering a season-ending injury in the first meet of the season. This is Pinto's second year as team captain and Afari's first.

Pinto had a breakout year as a sophomore in 2004-05, winning the ACC title and earning a NCAA Tournament berth at 141 pounds. He racked up a 26-11 record during the season, including a 10-3 mark in dual action. He became the first ACC champion in his weight class since Brandon York did it for the Terps in 2002. For his outstanding season, he earned the John McHugh Award as the team's most valuable wrestler.

Afari has been a mainstay for the Terrapins at the 197 slot since 2003-04, but this year will be wrestling in the heavyweight division. He went 16-13 last season, including an 11-8 mark in dual competition and a 3-2 record in conference matches, helping Maryland to earn co-champion honors in ACC dual meets with a record of 4-1. It was the first time the Terps earned a share of the title since the 1973-74 season.

Maryland will have its intrasquad exhibition tomorrow night as the Red & Black Wrestle-Offs will take place in the Comcast Center Pavilion at 7:30 p.m. The Terps open the 2006-07 campaign on November 4 when they take on Stanford, Mercyhurst, and Edinboro in Erie, Pa.