COLLEGE PARK, Md. - After a three-week break from competition, the Maryland wrestling team is back in action this weekend at the 51
st Ken Kraft Midlands Championships in Evanston, Ill. Select Terps will also compete at the Wilkes Open in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
The Midlands will begin on Sunday, Dec. 29 and stretch to Monday, Dec. 30. The championship finals will be shown live on the Big Ten Network on Monday. Check your local listings for the times in your area. A full schedule for the tournament is below.
Sunday Dec. 29 (All times CT)
First Session: 9:30 a.m.
Second Session: 7:00 p.m.
Monday Dec 30.
Third Session (semifinals/consolation matches/seventh place matches): Noon
Fourth Session (championship finals): 7:00 p.m.
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| Maryland's Probables for The Midlands Championships |
| Wt. |
Wrestler |
Yr. |
Hometown |
W-L |
MD |
TF |
Falls |
| 125 |
Billy Rappo |
So. |
Holland, Pa. |
9-5 |
0-0 |
3-0 |
2-0 |
| 133 |
Geoffrey Alexander* |
Jr. |
Pittsburgh, Pa. |
15-1 |
3-0 |
2-0 |
6-0 |
| 133 |
Tyler Goodwin |
Fr. |
Gambrills, Md. |
8-5 |
2-0 |
1-0 |
4-0 |
| 141 |
Shyheim Brown |
So. |
Harrisburg, Pa. |
11-1 |
1-0 |
2-0 |
1-0 |
| 149 |
Frank Goodwin |
Sr. |
Gambrills, Md. |
6-3 |
1-0 |
0-0 |
1-0 |
| 157 |
Ben Dorsay |
Sr. |
Virginia Beach, Va. |
8-3 |
2-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| 157 |
Danny Orem |
Sr. |
Glen Burnie, Md. |
6-5 |
1-1 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
| 165 |
Josh Snook |
So. |
Bear, Del. |
3-4 |
1-1 |
1-1 |
0-0 |
| 165 |
Tyler Manion |
So. |
McDonald, Pa. |
5-3 |
0-1 |
1-0 |
0-0 |
| 174 |
Tony Garnder |
Sr. |
Reisterstown, Md. |
5-4 |
0-1 |
1-1 |
2-0 |
| 184 |
Jimmy Sheptock |
Sr. |
Northampton, Pa. |
12-0 |
2-0 |
2-0 |
3-0 |
| 197 |
Christian Boley |
Sr. |
Brockport, N.Y. |
9-1 |
1-1 |
1-0 |
1-0 |
| 285 |
Spencer Myers |
Jr. |
Selinsgrove, Pa. |
12-0 |
0-0 |
1-0 |
3-0 |
* Unattached
Wilkes Open Probables
Attached
125 - Paul O'Neill
133 - Tony Farace
141 - RJ De George
184 - Chris Jastrzebski
197 - Dylan Devine
Unattached
141 - Daniel Sanchez
149 - Justin Alexander
149 - Jesse Holton
149 - Lou Mascola
165 - Arashdeep Gill
174 - Phil Robilotto
285 - Sean Twigg
285 - Ryan Kail
Last Time Out
The Terps dropped its ACC opener to No. 11 Pittsburgh 21-12 at Comcast Center on Dec. 6. No. 2 Jimmy Sheptock defeated No. 5 Max Thomusseit in a hotly anticipated matchup at 184 pounds. The senior nabbed a close 4-2 decision after a late takedown.
Spencer Myers won is 285-pounds bout, taking down No. 20 PJ Tasser with just seconds remaining in the first tiebreaker period to notch a 4-3 victory.
Danny Orem also picked up a close victory, defeating Sheptock's younger brother Cole at 157 pounds.
Next Up
The Terps will travel to face future Big Ten rival Michigan on Jan. 5. Maryland takes the mat again in the friendly confines of the Comcast Center on Feb. 8 against ACC foe Duke.
Tournament Rewind
At the 50th Annual Midlands Championship, Jimmy Sheptock was the top finisher for the Terps, placing fifth at 184 pounds. Sheptock finished seventh at 174 pounds two years ago and is one of only the seven Terps all-time to finish in the top eight twice at the Midlands. The Terps slotted in at 20th as a team.
A number of Terps, including Christian Boley, Danny Orem and Frank Goodwin, also have experience competing at the prestigious event.
Top of the Charts
Four Terps wrestlers received pre-seeds for the tournament. Shyheim Brown is the No. 4 seed at 141 pounds, while Jimmy Sheptock is No. 2 at 184. Two-time ACC champion Christian Boley is No. 2 at 197 pounds, and Spencer Myers is the third-seeded competitor in a stacked heavyweight bracket.
Beating the Best
Jimmy Sheptock and Spencer Myers are the only two Terps still unbeaten this season and both will face major tests in Evanston.
Myers will enter a field containing five of the top 10 heavyweights in the country, according to AWN. Northwestern's Mike McMullen will provide an especially tough test on his home turf.
Sheptock is lined up for a potential matchup with No. 2 Ethen Lofthouse of Iowa, the tournament's top seed at 184 pounds. The Pennsylvania native could also face Jake Swartz of Boise State, who Sheptock defeated in exhibition action at the NWCA All-Star Classic. The senior has defeated three ranked foes in his last four matches.
Highly Rated
Hall of Fame Credentials
Maryland head coach Kerry McCoy was named to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's class of 2014, as announced by the organization.
McCoy finished his college career at Penn State University with an overall record of 115-18. A three-time All-American, he won the NCAA Heavyweight Title in 1994 and 1997
Following his college career, McCoy starred for his United States, earning a sliver medal at the 2003 World Championships and winning five straight U.S Open Freestyle Championships from 2000-2004. McCoy twice represented the U.S. at the Olympic Games, finishing fifth in 2000 and seventh in 2004.
McCoy was named Maryland head coach in 2008 and has accumulated a 77-25-1 record over five years. A three-time ACC Coach of the Year, McCoy has won three ACC titles and coached seven All-Americans since he arrived in College Park.
“I'm truly honored and humbled by this,” McCoy said. “I've seen so many greats get into the hall and knowing my name will be listed with them is unbelievable. I'm so happy.”
All Star Status
Jimmy Sheptock began his season with an exhibition win over No. 6 Jake Swartz of Boise State in the featured 184-pound bout at the NWCA All-Star Classic at George Mason University.
An All-American last season, Sheptock will look to improve on his finish at the NCAA Championship last season and defend his ACC tittle. The senior is 8-0 in his campaign this season, with three dominating victories at the Terrapin Duals, a victory against Stanford and a tournament title at the Roadrunner Open. His final victory over of Kutztown put him over 100 victories for his Maryland career.
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