Maryland Mat Chat Episodes 14/15
8/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Episode 14 and 15 of the Maryland Mat Chat looks to the future as we talk with two of the standouts from the incoming recruiting class, New Jersey's Josh Ugalde and New York's Youssif Hemida
Nationally-ranked for most of his final two years in high school at Bound Brook, Ugalde was a three-time state-placewinner in the rugged one-class system in the Garden State. He finished his career with an impressive 140 wins and two runner-up finishes at the state championships. At 170 pounds, Ugalde will likely start his Terp career as a 165-pounder and work with two-time All-American and assistant coach Josh Asper to become battle-ready.
Ugalde talks about his plans for Maryland, how he's got a chip on his shoulder heading into Division I wrestling and feels like he's got something to prove.
Hemida become Mamaroneck's first state champion in school history when he captured the 220-pound state championship in 2014. A two-time All-American in freestyle in Fargo, Hemida talks about his ascension up the ranks and why he chose Maryland over Pittsburgh and Minnesota.
Hemida, just 17, plans to redshirt and pack on some more pounds to get ready for the size and strength of Division I heavyweights. Standing tall over his opposition is common, but come wrestling season, he'll be the shorter wrestler on the mat when he spars with teammate Dawson Peck.
We'll talk with Hemida about his career goals, why Kerry McCoy's influence was a big draw and of course, wrestling in the Big Ten.
