NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Maryland wrestling team split its two matches at the Grapple at the Garden in New York Sunday. The Terps fell to No. 6 Cornell in their first match of the day before storming back to score a dramatic 19-18 win over Rutgers to close the event at The World's Most Famous Arena.
Down 18-6 going into the final three bouts, the Terps were able to notch three straight wins to secure the match. Jimmy Sheptock, Christian Boley and Spencer Myers proved the Terps' strength in the heavier weight classes, pulling back enough points to nip the Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers jumped out to an early lead, scoring wins at 125 and 133 pounds. Shyheim Brown put the Terps on the board at 141, taking a 5-2 decision over Tyson Dippery.
After Ken Theobold pinned Derrick Evanovich at 149 pounds. Ben Dorsay was able to squeak out a key 6-5 decision over Anthony Perrotti.
The Scarlet Knights regained control of the match behind decision wins from Nicholas Visicaro and Phillip Bakuckas at 165 and 174 pounds.
Seemingly out of the match, the Terrapins rallied behind the ever-consistent Sheptock. The senior gave the Terps a lifeline with a dominant 22-7 tech fall victory over Dan Seidenberg.
Coming off a defeat against Penn, Boley rebounded in the strongest way possible, pinning Hayden Hrymack at 3:22 to edge the Terps even closer.
Myers finished off the Maryland comeback. The junior wrestled William Smith even for most of the bout before finally overcoming his Rutgers foe in the second tiebreaker period.
“Today was a rollercoaster,“ head coach Kerry McCoy said. “Against Rutgers, it was looking like the match would go the same way [as the Cornell match], but Dorsay found a way to win and give us some life. It went back and forth and our big guys came through in the end.”
Earlier in the day, Brown notched an upset victory over No. 4 Mike Nevinger, but the Big Red pulled away for a 31-9 win.
No. 2 Nahshon Garrett opened the dual with fall over Paul O'Neil and the Big Red never looked back, winning five of the ensuing six matches.
In the middle of the Cornell run, Brown was able to secure the biggest win of his young career, shutting out Nevinger, a two-time All-American, 5-0. Sheptock and Myers accounted for the rest of the Terps' points, both taking decision victories.
“Shyheim's win was huge and Jimmy and Spencer were steady, but we got out-wrestled in a lot of matches,” McCoy said. “I expect to be better next time.”
The Terps are back on the mat next Friday against ACC newcomer Pittsburgh. Action is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. from the Comcast Center.
Full Results
Cornell 31, Maryland 9
125: #2 Nahshon Garrett (C) fall over Paul O'Neill (MD), 4:34
133: #10 Mark Grey (C) decision over Tyler Goodwin (MD), 5-1
141: #16 Shyheim Brown (MD) decision over #4 Mike Nevinger (C), 5-0
149: #14 Chris Villalonga (C) decision over Derrick Evanovich (MD), 5-0
157: #12 Brian Realbuto (C) major decision over Danny Orem (MD), 16-5
165: Dylan Palacio (C) medical forfeit over Tyler Manion (MD)
174: Duke Pickett (C) major decision over Tony Gardner (MD), 13-2
184: #2 Jimmy Sheptock (MD) decision over #12 Gabe Dean (C), 5-3
197: #14 Jace Bennett (C) technical fall over Chris Jastrzebski (MD), 18-1
285: #6 Spencer Myers (MD) decision over Stryker Lane (C), 2-0
Maryland 19, Rutgers 18
125: Scott Delvecchio (RU) decision over Billy Rappo (MD), 2-0
133: #18 Vincent Dellefave (RU) decision over Tyler Goodwin (MD), 5-1
141: #16 Shyhiem Brown (MD) decision over Tyson Dippery (RU), 5-2
149: Ken Theobold (RU) fall over Derrick Evanovich (MD), 2:48
157: Ben Dorsay (MD) decision over Anthony Perrotti (RU), 6-5
165: Nicholas Visicaro (RU) decision over Josh Snook (MD), 6-2
174: Phillip Bakuckas (RU) decision over Tony Gardner (MD), 6-0
184: #2 Jimmy Sheptock (MD) four-point tech fall over Dan Seidenberg (RU), 22-7
197: #13 Christian Boley (MD) fall over Hayden Hrymack (RU), 3:22
285: #6 Spencer Myers (MD) decision over #16 William Smith (RU), TB2 4-3
