COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The Maryland wrestling team will continue its three-match home stand on Sunday, hosting the Michigan State Spartans for a 2 p.m. showdown in the XFINITY Center Pavilion. The match will be streamed live on BTN+ ($). 
 

PROJECTED STARTERS

 

	Maryland	Michigan State
125	Brandon Cray (RSo. - Steinert, N.J.)	No. 7 Rayvon Foley (So. - Ann Arbor, Mich.) OR Logan Griffin (RJr. - Erie Township, Mich.)
133	Orion Anderson (Fr. - Schuylerville, N.Y)	Anthony Tutolo (RSr. - Mentor, Ohio)
141	Michael Doetsch (RSo. - Severn, Md.)	Austin Eicher (RSr. - Fenton, Mich.) OR Alex Hrisopoulos (RSo. - Shelby Township, Mich.)
149	Alfred Bannister (RSr. - La Plata, Md.)	Jaden Enriquez (RFr. - Tulare, Calif.)
157	Adam Whitesell (RSr. - Silver Spring, Md.) OR Jahi Jones (RSr. - Fort Washington, Md.)	Jake Tucker (RSo. - Lowell, Ind.)
165	Philip Spadafora (RFr. - Dix Hills, N.Y.)	Austin Hiles (RSo. - Brecksville, Ohio) OR Logan Ritchie (RJr. - New Boston, Mich.)
174	Josh Ugalde (RJr. - Bound Brook, N.J.)	Drew Hughes (RSo. - Lowell, Ind.)
184	Kyle Jasenski (RFr. - Schenectady, N.Y.)	No. 15 Cameron Caffey (RFr. - Carbondale, Ill.)
197	Niko Cappello (RSo. - Cranford, N.J.)	Shwan Shadaia (RSr. - Rochester Hills, Mich.) OR Brad Wilton (RFr. - Mason, Mich.)
285	No. 6 Youssif Hemida (Sr. - Mamaroneck, N.Y.)	Chase Beard (RFr. - Allegan, Mich.) OR Christian Rebottaro (RSo. - Scotts Valley, Calif.)

 

TERP SPOTLIGHT

Alfred Bannister Sr. || 149 lbs.  La Plata, Md. Bannister picked up his third dual win and second B1G win when Maryland last wrestled. The redshirt senior topped Nebraska's Jordan Shearer with a 5-3 decision. He locked in the victory with a key takedown in the final period.

LAST TIME OUT

Redshirt senior Alfred Bannister and senior Youssif Hemida each earned a decision victory, but the Maryland wrestling team fell to No. 12 Nebraska. Both Bannister and Hemida tallied their third dual wins of the year, good for the most on Maryland's roster. Hemida's win was his third conference victory in as many appearances, which is the most on the team.

Despite losing by way of fall, redshirt senior Adam Whitesell became the first wrestler to secure a dual takedown against Nebraska's 157-pounder Tyler Berger. Berger, who is the No. 2 wrestler in the weight class, had a takedown ratio of 38-0 through dual competition before Whitesell took him to the mat twice in the first 30 seconds of the bout. 

#MOOSETIME

Senior Youssif Hemida has won three-consecutive matches since returning to Maryland's dual lineup against Purdue. 

After knocking off a pair of unranked wrestlers by decision, Hemida was able to beat 15th-ranked David Jensen of Nebraska in Maryland's dual against the Huskers. It was Hemida's first ranked victory of the season and his third time defeating Jensen in the last two years. 

YOUTH MOVEMENT 

Maryland has relied on a trio of freshmen in its dual lineup this season. True freshman Orion Anderson, along with redshirt freshmen Philip Spadafora and Kyle Jasenski, have started in all six of Maryland's duals. 

Spadafora and Jasenski each have a pair of dual victories. Spadafora also tallied a conference win in Maryland's dual at No. 23 Purdue. 

Anderson earned his first dual win in Maryland's outing against Central Michigan. 
 

IN THE RANKS

Youssif Hemida and Alfred Bannister have led the way in the rankings this season, with each coming in as top-25 wrestlers in their respective weight classes, according to InterMat, FloWrestling and TrackWrestling. 

Currently, Hemida remains a unanimous top-10 selection, coming in at No. 6 in InterMat, No. 8 in FloWrestling and No. 5 in TrackWrestling. 

Bannister is currently ranked No. 21 by TrackWrestling. 

PINNING AND WINNING

Maryland has found success by way of fall this season, with 40 total victories via pin across the roster.

Freshman King Sandoval leads the way with five, while redshirt senior Adam Whitesell is closely behind with four falls. Alfred Bannister also has tallied three pins this season. 

Whitesell has stuck opponents at a rapid pace, including a team-best pin in just 18 seconds. 

OFFSEASON OFFERINGS

It was a busy summer for Maryland wrestling head coach Kerry McCoy. In May, McCoy was presented with the Penn State Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes the achievements of outstanding PSU Alumni. 

McCoy also increased his involvement with USA Wrestling, coaching the Junior Pan Am Freestyle team in Brazil, as well as assuming the role of Secretary of USA Wrestling. 

UP NEXT

Maryland will wrap up its three-match home stand on Saturday, Feb. 2, hosting Wisconsin in the XFINITY Center Pavilion. The match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and will be streamed live on BTN+ ($).