COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland wrestling team heads to Blacksburg, Va. on Saturday, January 20 to face Virginia Tech at 2:00 p.m. at Cassell Coliseum. The Terrapins enter the match at 11-5 and 1-0 in the ACC after beating North Carolina last Saturday, 26-12. This is the conference opener for the Hokies which are 5-5 overall.

Maryland's win in its conference opener against the Tar Heels was impressive. The Terps lost the first two matches of the day by decision but won six of the last eight matches to win decisively, 26-12. No. 13 Alex Krom, Andrew Schlaffer, No. 13 Jason Kiessling, Clint Stout, No. 11 Mike Letts, and No. 18 Hudson Taylor all won matches for Maryland.

Later that day, the Terps dropped a 26-10 decision to No. 16 Illinois. Kiessling had the most impressive day for the Terps and is the hottest wrestler on the team heading into this weekend. He went 3-0 last week and his two wins on Saturday came against ranked opponents. He knocked off No. 12 Keegan Mueller of UNC, 2-1, in the first match and then beat No. 14 Roger Smith-Bergsrud of Illinois, 7-4.

Kiessling has now won 12-straight matches in dual competition and his 14 dual wins are the most on the team.

The Hokies have lost five of their last six duals after starting the season 4-0. All four of those season-opening wins came at Cassell Coliseum and were decisive triumphs. The closest score was a 27-12 win against Anderson. Virginia Tech's only win since November 5 was against Wyoming on January 12, 20-17. In their most recent outing, the Hokies lost to Bloomsburg, 39-6, last Saturday.

The Terps will start out with a 6-0 advantage as Virginia Tech will be forfeiting at 125.

The Terrapins have a big day on January 27 with a pair of ACC matches awaiting. Next Saturday, Maryland will take on NC State and Duke on the road.

Probable Starters:
125 - James Knox (MD) wins by forfeit
133 - Jon Kohler (MD) vs. Sheridan Moran
141 - No. 13 Alex Krom (MD) vs. Matt Rosen
149 - Andrew Schlaffer (MD) vs. Jon Bonilla-Bowman
157 - Mike McGill (MD) vs. Derek Gallagher
165 - No. 13 Jason Kiessling (MD) vs. Eric Decker
174 - No. 11 Mike Letts (MD) vs. Steve Ratley
184 - Josh Haines (MD) vs. Steve Borja
197 - No. 18 Hudson Taylor (MD) vs. Kevin O'Connor
HWT - Jerry Afari (MD) vs. Jim Powers