COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Over the next three days, umterps.com will preview the 2016-17 wrestling season with the help of head coach Kerry McCoy. Part one breaks down the 125, 133 and 141-pound weight classes.
125 Pounds
Projected Starter: Michael Beck
The Low Down: Junior Michael Beck returns as the incumbent at 125 pounds, after serving as the team's primary starter a season ago. The Terps were winless in the Big Ten in the weight class in 2015-16, but Beck will lead a talented mix of returners and newcomers looking to reverse the trend this year.
Second-year grapplers Peter Robinson and Joe Barber will challenge for the spot coming off redshirt years, while a crop of three freshmen will also be in the mix. Two-time New Jersey state champion Brandon Cray is primed for a successful debut season, while New York state place-winner Alex Vargas and two-time Ohio state finalist Hunter Lucas will provide balance and competition to the group.
McCoy's Take: “[Michael Beck] has always been one of those guys who has been consistent with his effort and attitude. What I've seen a lot in the last few weeks and throughout the spring and summer is the level and desire to want to get better has been a little more active. He is the frontrunner and returner from last season, but those other guys are right on his heels. It's going to be fun to see who comes out there.”
133 Pounds
Projected Starter: Tyler Goodwin
The Low Down: Redshirt junior Tyler Goodwin will make the 133-pound class his own this season, as he returns as one of squad's most experienced wrestlers in his fourth year with the Terps. After splitting time with four-time NCAA qualifier Geoffrey Alexander last season, he will be in the driver's seat to tackle a full slate of matches at 133 pounds for Maryland.
Goodwin was ranked 20th in the nation in TheOpenMat.com Preseason Individual Wrestling Rankings, while spending a pair of weeks last season. ranked inside the InterMat Wrestling top-20. The Gambrills, Md. native went 7-2 last year, including his first two career Big Ten victories. Goodwin's only losses last season came at the hands of eventual All-Americans.
Providing depth behind Goodwin will be fellow redshirt junior Jhared Simmons, who moved up from 125 pounds. McCoy expects freshman Michael Doetsch to be an important piece of the team's future, while helping push the weight class to success this season.
McCoy's Take: “Tyler is the poster child for our team with the culture shift and change in expectations. He's one of the more influential guys on our team, so as he sets his mind and sets his path that's where a lot of the guys on the team will follow. We want him to strive to be a National Champion and have that level of commitment. If he has his mind in the right position, he can beat anybody in the country. That's what we want to get him focused on. As a wrestler, he's very aggressive. He's funky, he can wrestle from a lot of different positions; he has a great feel for wrestling. He's good on top, he's hard to take down, I think those are the things, combined with a technical focus, that will put him in a position to really hammer out some tough wins.”
141 Pounds
Projected Starter: Alfred Bannister
The Low Down: 141 pounds presents perhaps the best 1-2 punch on the roster, with both redshirt sophomore Alfred Bannister and redshirt senior Billy Rappo returning to the fold. The duo split time as the team's dual match starter last season, and both were selected as team captains ahead of the 2016-17 season.
Bannister wrestled the lion's share of duals last season, going 6-7 (10-10 overall) while picking up his first career Big Ten head-to-head and tournament victories. “Baby J”, as he is affectionately known to fans and teammates, is one of the best defensive wrestlers on the squad as he has yet to surrender a bonus point defeat in his career. With his first Big Ten season under his belt, the LaPlata, Md. will look to build on his experience as he makes the next step in his career.
Rappo returns as one of squad's most seasoned collegiate wrestlers, a year removed from racking up a career-best 17 wins. The Holland, Pa. native is one of two fifth-year seniors on the roster, and his 17 wins a season ago tied for the second most on the team. Rappo sports a career record of 45-30 with a 10-9 mark in duals and 20 total bonus point victories. He will help lead Maryland's young squad this season, including the Terps' pair of 141-pound freshmen Mike DeClario and Peter Tedesco.
McCoy's Take:“It's a good situation when you have two or three guys at certain weight classes who can start. Baby J's biggest challenge last year was really believing in all of the things necessary to be successful...His talent level was able to get him so far, but as he continues to progress and believes in the commitment to hard work all the time and managing your weight the right way, that's going to pay off in dividends. Billy's done a great job from top to bottom. He's had a couple hiccups here and there and things that held him back from reaching his full potential, but now as a fifth-year senior he's all in. He was here all summer training, pushing not only himself to be better but for the team to get better.”
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