Dec. 21, 2012

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Each week during the 2012-13 season a Maryland student-athlete, who has shown excellence on and off the playing field, will be selected as the Solomon Eye Associates Terp of the Week. This week's Solomon Eye Associates Terp of the Week is Jimmy Sheptock from wrestling.

Sheptock, ranked sixth nationally at 184 pounds, went undefeated for the 18th-ranked Terps at the inaugural Grapple at the Garden on Sunday and helped the Terps to a come-from-behind victory over 17th-ranked Nebraska. Against the Huskers, Sheptock knocked off seventh-ranked Josh Ihnen in sudden victory after defeating Ohio State's Kenny Courts in the morning matchup.

By Vince Barnaba | Maryland Media Relations Student Assistant

Stepping onto the mats at Madison Square Garden, it would have been easy for anyone to be awestruck at the stage for last weekend's Grapple at the Garden. However, University of Maryland junior wrestler Jimmy Sheptock viewed it as just another opportunity to accomplish his goal for the season.

Sheptock's season ended last year at the NCAA Championships just one match shy of winning All-American honors. That loss fueled Sheptock throughout the offseason. He has wrestled every match this season with the goal of getting back to the NCAA Championships and on the podium, the one he just missed out on last season.

"Every time I step out onto the mat I want to win. If I don't win then I am not helping my team win and hurting my chance at achieving my goal of being an All-American," said Sheptock.

Sheptock has done just that this season amassing a 17-1 record; with his only loss coming to the top-ranked wrester in his weight class while helping lead the Terps to a 6-3 record.

Heading into the Grapple at the Garden, both the Terps and Sheptock had a lot to prove, and wrestling in Madison Square Garden provided the stage to show the wrestling world what type of team and wrestlers they were.

After falling to fourth-ranked Ohio State in the morning matchup, Maryland fell behind 17th-ranked Nebraska 17-9 with just three matches to go. Sheptock then took to the mat for his matchup against seventh-ranked Josh Ihnen. Despite falling behind on a takedown early in the match, Sheptock responded with two second-period takedowns to tie the matchup and send it into sudden victory.

In sudden victory, Sheptock was able to complete a shot at Ihnen's legs and throw him down moments before the period expired. It secured Sheptock's sixth victory over a nationally-ranked opponent this season and started a comeback for the Terps. Following Sheptock's victory, Christian Boley and Carl Buchholz completed the comeback to give Maryland a one point, 18-17, come-from-behind victory.

Sheptock's two wins over the weekend were enough to earn him the title of ACC Wrestler of the Week. This was Sheptock's second time winning the award and the fourth time a Maryland wrestler has won this season.

Despite Sheptock and Maryland's early season success on the mats, there is still a lot of wrestling left in the season and a lot of opponents between Sheptock and his goal. He knows the feeling of being forced to watch from the side as the All-Americans are announced and he does not want to go through that again this season. Every match is the opportunity for Sheptock to get better and get one step closer to his ultimate goal of being an All-American.