March 18, 2011
Updated Brackets 
| Updated Team Standings
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -The University of Maryland wrestling team jumped up in the team standings in Day Two of the 2011 NCAA Championships Friday at Wells Fargo Center thanks to a trio of Terps advancing through the consolation bracket and earning All-America status. As a team, Maryland has 34.5 points and is tied with the Wolverines of Michigan for 15th place.
Josh Asper (165 pounds), Mike Letts (174) and Spencer Myers (Heavyweight) all progressed in the second day to clinch All-America honors, tying a record of most top-eight finishers in Maryland history.
“I'm excited about how the day finished,” said head coach Kerry McCoy. “Three All-Americans is a great achievement. We had some tough matches in the morning and we bounced back really well to get those guys through. I'm excited and we have to finish strong tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it.”
Narrowly losing in last season's All-American match last season, Asper fought hard to ensure a top finish on Friday.
After suffering a close 3-1 loss to fifth-seeded Colt Sponseller of Ohio State, the fourth-seeded Asper shut out Clarion's Bekzod Abdurakhmonov 6-0 to guarantee All-American status. In the consolation quarterfinals, the Parkton, Md., native silenced Lehigh's Brandon Hatchett 4-0 to advance to the wrestleback semifinals, where he'll face second-seeded Andrew Howe of Wisconsin. Regardless of Asper's finish on Saturday, the sophomore can place no lower than sixth at 165 pounds.
A true freshman, Myers won five consecutive matches to earn All-America status. After finishing Thursday night with a pin over VMI's Joshua Wine, Myers continued his hot streak by first topping 12th-seeded Eric Bugenhagen of Wisconsin 3-2 before earning a win over Iowa State's Kyle Simonson. Next, Myers convincingly defeated 11th-seeded Tucker Lane of Nebraska 9-2 to set up a quarterfinals matchup against eighth-seeded Anthony Nelson of Minnesota.
After a scoreless first period, Nelson chose bottom against Nelson and escaped to pick up the one-point advantage. In the third, Myers countered by choosing down and quickly escaping to tie it up 1-1, sending the bout to overtime. Deciding to stick with what had been working, Myers chose down once again and was able to pull the upset by escaping Nelson's grasp to earn the 2-1 overtime win. Myers will square off against fifth-seeded Dom Bradley of Missouri Saturday morning for the right to compete in the third-place match.
The ACC Tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler, Letts handled 10th-seeded Nick Heflin of Ohio State 9-2 to add All-America honors to his resume.
One of Maryland's senior captains, Letts followed his championship-quarterfinals loss to top-seeded Jonathan Reader of Iowa State by controlling Heflin throughout the bout. Thanks to a takedown and three-point nearfall, Letts scored five in the first and followed in the third with four additional points, including one from accrued riding time.
In the consolation quarterfinals, Letts fell to fourth-seeded Colby Covington setting up the Parkesburg, Pa., native in the seventh-place match Saturday morning. Letts will challenge eighth-seeded Ben Bennett of Central Michigian.
Kyle John, Maryland's other Friday competitor was eliminated from the tournament after suffering a 7-5 defeat at the hands of Virginia Tech's Jesse Dong, who similarly claimed the 157-pound ACC title.
The tournament will resume Saturday morning at 11 a.m. and will air live on ESPNU as well as ESPN3.com. Saturday evening's finals will be broadcast on ESPN.
-ES-
