COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Redshirt sophomore Alfred Bannister and sophomore Youssif Hemida both finished with two-win days for the Terps Sunday afternoon as the team hosted its third annual Beauty and the Beast dual match with gymnastics. Maryland (2-7, 0-2 B1G) dropped its morning Big Ten dual vs. #12 Illinois (2-1, 1-1 B1G) 30-15, then fell in a close one with Navy (6-0) 23-16 to end the day.
The Terps will return to action next weekend for a pair of road duals vs. Michigan (Jan. 13) and Michigan State (Jan. 15)
#12 ILLINOIS
30
15
MARYLAND
January 8, 2017 || XFINITY Center || 11:00 am
Match #1 -- #12 Illinois won seven of the first eight matches, which included six bonus point victories to secure a 30-15 team decision over the Terps in Maryland's first head-to-head matchup of the day. The firepower of the Fighting Illini was on full display, with its four ranked wrestlers combining for 20 team points as the squad earned its first Big Ten dual win of the season.
Maryland did have bright spots, which included back-to-back wins in the upper weights for redshirt freshman David-Brian Whisler and sophomore Youssif Hemida. Whisler wrestled a close match with Andre Lee at 197, using a pair of escapes and second period takedown to win his sixth dual match on the season. Hemida dominated Duece Rachal from the early goings, before the Illini wrestler defaulted due to injury in the first period.
Bannister was Maryland's other winner in the morning slate, pinning Eric Baroneat 1:42 for his fourth fall of the season. With three wrestlers going up a weight class, Maryland ultimately couldn't overcome the Illini's strength as the Terps dropped the 15-point tem decision.
NAVY
23
16
MARYLAND
January 8, 2016 || XFINITY Center || 1:00 p.m.
Match #2 -- Maryland got off to an inspired start in its Beauty and the Beast dual against Navy, winning three of the four opening matches, but the Midshipmen came on in the middle weight matches to ultimately win their sixth dual of the year, 23-16. Wrestling and gymnastics shared the floor in front of an announced crowd of 1,778.
Michael Beck (125) got back in the win column with a solid 7-3 win against Brant Leadbeter to open the dual, coming on strong at the end of the third period with three takedowns. Billy Rappo was all over Cody Lambert in the 133-pound dual, building up several minutes of ride time while adding some back points for a 10-0 major decision.
The Midshipmen got back on track with a tech fall from Jared Prince at 141, but Bannister answered with a 7-3 decision over Corey Wilding to put the Terps back ahead 10-5.
Navy then won the next five, with three of the bouts being decided by decision. Redshirt freshman Josh Ugalde came up just short of Drew Daniels in the 165-pound bout, falling 2-1 on an escape and penalty point.
Hemida ended the day on a good note for UMD in the heavyweight match, grinding down Ethan Stanley into the third period for his second win. It was there he caught Stanley and flipped him on his back for a pin at 5:52, his first of the season.
-Terps-
