Dec. 8, 2012

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland wrestling team (4-2), ranked 17th nationally, renews its rivalry with American in the 2012 version of 'The Battle of the Beltway' on Sunday at AU's Bender Arena.

The meet is scheduled for 7 p.m. on the campus of American University in Washington, D.C.

"American is a huge match for us every year - 'The Battle of the Beltway,'" said head coach Kerry McCoy. "They've had some real bright spots individually this year. If they put all of those guys together, they are going to be real tough. We have to not have a letdown and overlook anybody."

Event Multimedia

The match will be broadcasted live on aueagles.tv for a fee.

Updates will be posted on the Maryland Wrestling Twitter feed and on the Maryland Wrestling Facebook page, so "Follow" and "Like" to get updates sent straight to you.

On Sunday, be sure to use hashtag #MDvsAU.

Last Time Out

Geoffrey Alexander (133) and Jimmy Sheptock (184) earned victories over nationally-ranked foes, but the Terps fell at No. 16 Pittsburgh, 23-12, Friday night.

Next Up

Maryland travels to Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y., for the Grapple at the Garden. It marks the first ever collegiate wrestling event at the famous arena.

The event is Sunday, Dec. 16. The Terps will face No. 4 Ohio State at 10:30 a.m., followed by a matchup with No. 9 Nebraska at 12:30 p.m.

Follow Maryland Wrestling on Twitter

On Sunday, be sure to use hashtag #MDvsAU when you tweet.

Follow Maryland Wrestling on Facebook

Scouting The Terps

Maryland enters Friday night's meet winners of 4 of 6 dual meets this season. The Terps lost to No. 16 Pittsburgh Friday night at the Fitzgerald Field House.

So far this season, the squad's strength has been based at 125, 133, 174, 184 and 285. The Terps are a combined 24-6 at the five weight classes and are 6-0 at 184, a position held by 10th-ranked Jimmy Sheptock.

Sheptock has scored a team-high 24 dual-meet points in the five meets. Prior to Friday night's matchup with the Panthers, the junior led the team in takedowns (14), two-point near falls (4), three-point near falls (3), and bonus points (15).

Geoffrey Alexander (133) and Shane Gentry (125) have been strong at the top of the lineup. Alexander and Gentry rank second and third, respectively, in dual points.

2012-13 Preseason Preview
· Lower Weights: Plenty of Experience For Terps
· Middle Weights: Spots Up For Grabs
· Upper Weights: Title Contenders

Scouting The Eagles

The matchup with the Terps is the season-opening dual meet for the Eagles having only competed in tournaments so far this season.

David Terao led the Eagles at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational last weekend, finishing fifth at 125 to lead the team to a 19th-place result in the overall standings. Terao went 5-2 in the tournament with two falls and upset then-No. 13 Sean Boyle of Michigan in a 7-6 decision.

Terao is 12-5 this season, leading the team with five falls. He has placed in every tournament to open the year, finishing second at the Brockport/Oklahoma Invitational and fourth at the Keystone Classic.

At 149, Kevin Tao placed fifth at the Brockport/Oklahoma Invitational and second at the Keystone Classic. Tao has registered three major decisions and three falls, posting an 8-5 mark in competition this season.

Blake Herrin has been strong for the Eagles this season at 285. Herrin registered the lone tournament title for American this year, winning the Brockport/Oklahoma Invitational to start the year. He also placed third at the Keystone Classic and owns an 8-3 record.

Sunday's Probables:

125 - David Terao (12-5)
133 - Esteban Gomez-Rivera (7-6)
141 - John Boyle (7-6)
149 - Kevin Tao (8-5)
157 - Mark Cirello (3-5)
165 - Phillip Barriero (4-5)
174 - Keithen Cast (8-6)
184 - Thomas Barriero (5-6)
197 - Devon Bradley (0-6)
285 - Blake Herrin (8-2)

Poll Central

Follow the Terps and their opponents during the 2012-13 season via these national polls:
USA Today/NWCA/AWN Coaches Poll
InterMat
WIN Magazine

Sheptock Takes ACC Honors

Jimmy Sheptock earned Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestler of the Week honors after posting a 4-1 record and placing second at the Nittany Lion Open.

Sheptock's 13 wins this season are a team high, and after his opening round technical fall over Navy's Colton Vanthof, the Northampton, Pa., native is tied for the team lead with three technical fall victories.

The junior is a first-time honoree and the second Terrapin wrestler to be honored this season.Geoffrey Alexanderwon the award for the week of Nov. 6.

Home Sweet Home

With the trip to Pittsburgh on Friday, the Terps returned to their home away from home. Of the current Maryland wrestlers, 14 are from Pennsylvania, which is the highest representation of any state on the roster.

In particular, Geoffrey Alexander, who wrestled at nearby Shady Side Academy in high school, celebrated a homecoming of sorts with a 3-2 decision over sixth-ranked Shelton Mack.

Heavy Lifting

Terrapin starters Geoffrey Alexander (133) and Jimmy Sheptock (184) have combined to face 10 nationally-ranked opponents and together are 8-2.

Alexander is 3-1, while Sheptock is 5-1 including his win over 15th-ranked Max Thomusseit on Friday. At the Nittany Lion Open, Sheptock defeated No. 14 Dan Rinaldi of Rutgers and No. 19 Alex Utley of North Carolina.

Top Of The Table

Following the Northeast Duals, 184-pound Jimmy Sheptock leads the team or is tied for the team lead in eight dual-meet categories.

Sheptock leads the Terps in: dual points scored (21), technical falls (1), takedowns (14), two-point near falls (4), three-point near falls (3) and bonus points scored (15).

He is tied for the team lead in major decisions (1) and reversals (2).

Title Town

Four Terrapins won individual titles at the Brockport/Oklahoma Classic: Josh Asper (174), Christian Boley (197), Shane Gentry (125) and Jimmy Sheptock (184).

For Asper, it was his third consecutive title at Brockport with his first two coming at 165 pounds. Boley has won the 197-pound title the past two years.

Hudson Taylor Award

After each home dual meet this season, the Maryland coaching staff will select one wrestler as the recipient of the Hudson Taylor Award. The award is given to the most outstanding Terrapin wrestler in the meet.

Geoffrey Alexander received the award following Terrapin victories over Johns Hopkins and West Virginia to open the season.

Welcome To 174

Josh Asper made his debut at 174 pounds Saturday, Nov. 3 at the NWCA All-Star Classic. The Parkton, Md., native was pitted against two-time All-American Jordan Blanton of Illinois, who began the season ranked No. 2.

Asper made a statement. After three periods could not separate the two wrestlers, Asper scored a takedown in overtime to win 3-1.

With the win, Asper remained undefeated in the annual showcase. He is 3-0 and has appeared in this event more than any other Maryland wrestler in program history.

Schedule The Best

Maryland's 2012-13 schedule features several of the nation's elite. The Terps face 12 teams that were among the top 30 at the NCAA Championships including two top-10 programs in Ohio State and Illinois.

The Terps faced No. 6 Illinois on Nov. 24 at the Northeast Duals and are scheduled against No. 4 Ohio State on Dec. 16 at Madison Square Garden.

In addition, Maryland defeated No. 21 Purdue and will take on No. 9 Nebraska, No. 13 Virginia Tech, No. 16 Pittsburgh, No. 18 Virginia, No. 25 Bloomsburg, and potentially faces No. 7 Missouri and/or No. 20 Wyoming at the NWCA National Duals.

Movin' On Up

During the offseason, several wrestlers made the move to a higher weight class.

Lou Mascola defeated Danny Orem at the Red & Black Wrestle-Offs to earn the starting nod at 149. Mascola wrestled at 141 last season and finished with a record of 10-12.

Ben Dorsay, who started for the Terps last season at 149, makes the jump to 157 this season. Dorsay is expected to redshirt this year.

After placing sixth at the NCAA Championships for the second consecutive season in 2012, Josh Asper climbs to 174. Asper has compiled a record of 63-9 over the past two seasons.

At 184, Jimmy Sheptock slides up from 174 where he went 27-6 last season en route to his first ACC Championship.

Ty Snook moves up from 184 to 197 following a 14-15 campaign in 2012 where he will compete with Christian Boley.

In The Hunt

The Terps placed seven wrestlers in the finals of last season's ACC Championships. Six of the seven wrestlers return for Maryland including three conference champions.

Christian Boley and Jimmy Sheptock will be looking for their second ACC title in as many seasons. Josh Asper will be looking to regain the crown after losing in the 165-pound final.

Geoffrey Alexander and Shane Gentry will both be looking for their first titles after falling in last season's championship round.

Grapple at the Garden

The Terps schedule includes a trip to Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Dec. 16. It is the first-ever collegiate wrestling event to be held at the world famous arena.

Maryland will take on two Big Ten powerhouses in No. 4 Ohio State and No. 9 Nebraska.

Head Coach Kerry McCoy

Beginning his fifth season at Maryland, head coach Kerry McCoy has compiled a record of 60-17-2, which is the highest winning percentage in program history (.772). McCoy, a three-time ACC Coach of the Year honoree, led the Terps to their second consecutive ACC crown in 2012. McCoy's accomplishments are numerous and include:

-22 All-Atlantic Coast Conference honorees
-15 ACC Champions
-Six All-Americans
-Three ACC Championships
-Three top-20 finishes at the NCAA Championships
-Two ACC Wrestler of the Year honorees
-Two ACC Tournament MVP honorees

Media Information

Terps on the Web: For up-to-date game stories, statistics, schedules and results, and other Maryland athletic department information, please log-on to REPLACE_ME on the Internet.