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 three breaks down the 174, 184, 197 and 285-pound weight classes.
174 Pounds
Projected Starter: Brendan Burnham
The Low Down: The 174-pound weight class will be another fresh look for the Terps in the season ahead, as last year's starters Josh Snook and Derrick Evanovich have since graduated. Sophomore Brendan Burnham will be in contention for the spot, after totaling nine wins during his true freshman season at 165 pounds. Burnham was 6-6 in duals, which included B1G wins over Iowa and Michigan State.
Right there with Burnham will be redshirt freshman freshman Idris White who is set to embark on his first full season with the Terps after his redshirt debut. Redshirt freshman Sam Rowell, who won a Maryland state title in 2015, is also slated at the weight class after going 6-4 during his redshirt year. Three-time NHSCA All-American Niko Cappello will embark on his first season with the Terps, and may move between 174 and 184 throughout the year.
McCoy's Take: “Brendan [Burnham] is planning on moving up a weight class and has a redshirt available. Brendan had surgery in the spring, so recovering puts him in a little bit limited position. He hasn't been able to do as much as some of the other guys so we'll see how that goes. Idris White was a freshman last year coming off a pretty good first year, so he's put himself in position. Sam Rowell is another local kid that was in the mix last year, but had some injuries, Spencer Woods in another option if he were to move up. We have another freshman Niko Cappello who may be either a 174 or 184 pounder. So again, that's really a situation where we have some young guys who have the opportunity to explore new territory.”
184 Pounds
Projected Starter: Jaron Smith
The Low Down: Sophomore Jaron Smith is back with a year of Big Ten experience under his belt, and will again been called upon as the team's starter at 184 in 2016-17. After making gains in the weight room and on the mat during the spring and summer, coach McCoy is excited to see what the second-year grappler will bring to the lineup this season.
Smith bagged some impressive wins during his true freshman season, starting off with a pin over then-18th ranked Jeff Koepke (Illinois) at the Grapple at the Garden. The Columbia, Md. native would secure three more wins over Big Ten opponents over the course of the year, finishing 9-13 overall and 5-7 in duals. Maryland may have some other options with teammates moving up or down weight classes throughout the year, but for now Smith is primed to be the guy.
McCoy's Take: “Jaron is one of the guys who was here all summer, he's committed. He wants to get better. He was kind of left with a bitter taste in his mouth last year when he didn't get to compete in the Big Ten Tournament. He got beat out at the end of the year by our senior. So he's using that to light a fire under him, but he still has some obstacles. He does have a funky style so he has to get away from relying on that all the time and be more solid. But in other areas he wants to embrace it and take advantage of it. So he's in a unique situation because there's certain things we can't teach, he just does it from feel and from repetition. So he's in a situation where he's been working hard, doing the right things and I think it's going to pay off for him.”
197 Pounds
Projected Starter: Garrett Wesneski
The Low Down: Entering his redshirt sophomore season, Garrett Wesneski will look to take the next step in his career for the Terps with another year as the team's starter at 197 pounds. After a redshirt season that saw him win 27 times, the Canton, Pa. native was challenged in his first season in the Big Ten. Wesneski was entrenched in some close battles week in and week out, and will look to turn the tides in his favor in the coming year.
In the mix in the upper weight classes will be redshirt freshman David-Brian Whisler, who McCoy believes could see time at either 184 and 197 pounds this season. Whisler went 8-3 in his first collegiate season, which included a tournament victory at F&M Open. Freshman Nick McShea is slotted at the weight class, finishing his high school career at Monroe-Woodbury as a 2015 National HS Coaches Association All-American (7th) and two-time New York State place winner.
McCoy's Take: “Garrett had a really good redshirt year. Last year he was kind of up and down, he had some injuries and a couple things that held him back. But, his biggest opportunity for improvement was his mental focus and his confidence. He carried a lot of weight on his shoulders a lot of times when it wasn't necessary. There would be situations where he'd have a bad practice and he would let that carry over to the next day. He didn't always allow himself to enjoy the process much. So this year I think he's had a shift with that to say, 'Hey I need to just go out there and be happy and do my thing. If its good, great. If it's bad, shake it off and get back. He's got another year of maturity, another year of experience under his belt. So, it's really good to see him be in a position to go out there and represent our program and to battle. With [David-Brian Whisler] potentially there he'll have to battle for the spot. Last year he was the only guy we had there consistently, so now he has to battle and I think that will keep him moving in the right direction.”
285 Pounds
Projected Starter: Youssif Hemida
The Low Down: Capping off the 2016-17 preview series is the heavyweight class, headlined by sophomore Youssif Hemida. The team captain highlighted Maryland's freestyle performances on the mat this spring/summer, as he finished as an UWW Junior Freestyle All-American and University Freestyle All-American.
Hemida shined for the Terps in Las Vegas at UWW Nationals, winning four matches including three by tech fall to garner All-America honors. The Mamaroneck, N.Y. native took fourth in the 120 KG bracket to earn a spot at UWW Worlds in Irving, Texas. He would later win six matches at University Freestyle Nationals in Akron, Ohio finishing seventh in the 125 kg bracket to secure his second All-American nod of the spring freestyle circuit.
The Maryland heavyweight split time as the squad's starter last season, and had a solid showing in open tournaments including a win at the Messiah Open. Hemida's marque moment came in UMD's dual vs. Michigan State, as he pinned Dimitrus Renfroe with two seconds remaining to clinch his first Big Ten win. Hemida would later add a win at the Big Ten Tournament to his true freshman season resume, and will now look to translate the positives from his first season into the folkstyle campaign ahead.
McCoy's Take: “For Youssif to be able to go out there and compete against the level of competition he faced in freestyle was big. Getting your hand raised no matter what style is important. The freestyle offseason success was good, but really for him the level of commitment that he made throughout the spring and summer was key. Being here training all spring and summer, getting to compete in those different events, and going out to compete in the world team trials was a great experience for him. Obviously being a hands on guy for me, he was able to work on a lot. But he was doing the things you need to get better. And when you have that attitude to leave no stone unturned, a lot of things work in your way.”
-Terps-
