Results
ROANOKE, Va. – Redshirt junior Tyler Goodwin (133) and redshirt sophomore Alfred Bannister (149) starred for the Terps in the squad's season debut Sunday, each defeating a ranked opponent while winning their respective brackets at the Southeast Open. It was a solid day overall for the Terps, which saw several true freshman achieve collegiate-firsts.
Goodwin was dominant in his opening round matches, making quick work of Paul Ambrose (Campbell) with a tech fall and pinning Anthony Rivera (Edinboro) in 6:49 in the round of 16. Goodwin then advanced out of the quarterfinals after taking out Cole Baumgartner (Duke) by decision, 7-0.
He then faced off against 18th-ranked Jamal Morris of NC State in the semifinals, knocking off the Wolfpack grappler in a wild 17-16 match. After Goodwin opened up an 8-0 lead on a takedown and back points, Morris was able to climb back eventually getting ahead 12-11 after the first period. Goodwin managed to regain the lead in the second, holding off some late points from Morris to clinch the one-point decision. The Gambrills, Md. native took care of business in the final, getting a 7-2 decision over Esteban Gomez Rivera (American) to win the 133-pound open bracket.
In his career debut at 149 pounds, Bannister showed what a year of experience in the Big Ten can do for you, posting two pins, a major decision and two decisions to finish the day unbeaten. Bannister's marque win of the day would come in the semifinals, as he defeated No. 17 Michael Pongracz of Chattanooga 7-6. He followed it up with a sudden victory decision (6-4) in the 149-pound open final to claim the bracket.
Redshirt freshman David-Brian Whisler also finished perfect on the day, winning five straight matches to win the 197-pound freshman/sophomore ladder. Whisler notched a fall and major through his first three bouts, then rattled off back-to-back decisions including a 6-4 sudden victory over Jeremiah Imonode (Army) in the final.
Sophomore Jaron Smith (184) got his day off to a solid start, winning both of his opening bouts by decision over Hank Turner (Shorter University) and Noah Stewart (Army). Smith then got a fall over Elijah Seay (2:52) in the quarterfinals to punch his spot to the semis. Smith would eventually do down in the finals, but still finished the day 4-1.
Youssif Hemida took both of his opening matches in the 285-open bracket, then walked into the finals after a medical forfeit from No. 18 Ray O'Donnell (Princeton) in the semis. He dropped a 8-3 decision to Duke's Jacob Casper in the final, but got off his second season with the Terps off to a solid start.
A trio of Terps advanced to the quarters of the 174-pound F/S bracket, including Idris White, who posted a major decision (12-3) and fall (1:10) to open up his season. True freshman Spencer Woods pinned Chad Hupp (Parkview WC) in his first career match as a Terp. Sophomore Brendan Burnham went 1-1, winning his season opening match over Army's Graham Ratermann by decision (8-4).
Maryland had three grapplers advance to the quarters of the 125-pound F/S bracket, as true freshman Brandon Cray, Alex Vargas and Hunter Lucas all made their Terrapin debuts.
Cray would then advance to the semis, getting a decision over NC State's Tommy Cox, while Vargas secured a major decision vs. Arrick Shankles (Edinboro) to punch ticket to semis. After the duo dropped their following matches, the two had it out in the third place 125 F/S match, which Cray took by decision 10-7.
The Terps will be back on that mat for another day of open tournament action on Sunday, November 13 when the team competes at the Binghampton Open in Binghampton, N.Y.
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