Feb. 20, 2011
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Capped by reserve heavyweight Tommy Sitar's 4-0 decision over Hunter Manspile, the University of Maryland wrestling team rolled over George Mason 42-3 on Senior Day in the team's final dual meet of the season.
No. 19 Mike Letts and Christian Boley each pinned their opponents on Sunday afternoon and No. 17 Jon Kohler, No.14 Kyle John and No. 3 Josh Asper earned bonus points for Maryland with major decisions as the Terps closed out the 2010-11 regular season with their 16th win overall and 11th in their last 12 meets.
"The guys are performing the way they should be at this point," said head coach Kerry McCoy. "We have to keep this momentum going forward for the ACC tournament."
Senior Day honorees Pat Strizki and Lou Ruland got the momentum going to open the meet with back-to-back wins by forfeit, putting the Terps ahead by 12 before the clock struck 1 p.m.
At 141 pounds, Kohler shutout George Mason's Denny Herndon to earn the 9-0 major decision in the senior captain's final regular season bout. In the 174-pound matchup, Maryland's other senior captain Letts pinned Jimmy Kaden in under two minutes of action.
"I think [the senior captains] did a great job," said McCoy. "They are our captains and the leadership of our team was great. It was really bittersweet that we won't get to see them wrestle at Comcast again but they did a great job. Mike dominated the competition. Jon started a little slow but eventually got the ball rolling. It was a great all-around performance."
After Patriot Brandon Bucher picked up a decision over Dex Lederer for George Mason's first and only points on the day, Maryland responded with four consecutive bonus-point matches, starting with Lett's 1:59 pin.
At 184 pounds, senior Bradley Nielson earned a 3-1 victory over Greg Scott to put Maryland up by 30.
Boley followed with a third-period pin, the redshirt freshman's first on the season, thanks to a perfectly executed takedown slam of Jimmy Webb.
In the final bout at heavyweight, Sitar got the starting nod and brought the crowd of over 350 to its feet by pulling off the 4-0 upset over George Mason's Manspile.
Maryland has nearly two weeks off before heading south to Charlottesville, Va. for the 2011 ACC Championships on Mar. 5. The Terps, who finished second in the conference behind No. 21 Virginia Tech will seek their third ACC Championship in the past four seasons.
"The biggest thing we have to focus on is getting better," said McCoy. "We have been wrestling well and right now we have some time off. We have to work hard on improving so we can win championships individually and as a team. All of their hard work is showing."
Maryland 42, George Mason 3
125- Pat Strizki (MD) wins by forfeit (6-0)
133- Lou Ruland (MD) wins by forfeit (12-0)
141- No. 17 Jon Kohler (MD) major dec. Denny Herndon, 9-0 (16-0)
149- Brandon Bucher (GM) dec. over Dex Lederer, 7-0 (16-3)
157- No. 14 Kyle John (MD) major dec. Jaaziah Bethea, 12-3 (20-3)
165- No. 3 Josh Asper (MD) major dec. Aaron Keeton, 15-7 (24-3)
174- No. 19 Mike Letts (MD) fall over Jimmy Kaden, 1:59 (30-3)
184- Bradley Nielson (MD) dec. Greg Scott, 3-1 (33-3)
197- Christian Boley (MD) fall over Jimmy Webb, 6:28 (39-3)
HWT- Tommy Sitar (MD) dec. Hunter Manspile, 4-0 (42-3)
Four Terps Place at National Collegiate Open
Four wrestlers placed at the National Collegiate Open on Saturday at Clarion University in Clarion, Pa.
One of the final open tournaments of the season, the National Collegiate Open provides reserves and redshirt wrestlers the opportuntiy to compete in a similar intensity to the conference and national championships.
At 133 pounds, Joey Boone claimed fifth after finishing with a 4-2 record on the day. Mark Hartenstine similarly nabbed fifth place at 141 pounds while Jenkins Monzey and Danny Orem each finished at sixth at 125 and 157 pounds, respectively.
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