Terps Ready for #3 Iowa, #7 Minnesota
2/6/2019 10:35:00 AM | Wrestling
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The Maryland wrestling team will hit the road this weekend, traveling to Iowa and Minnesota for a pair of matches against top-10 opponents. Maryland will face the third-ranked Hawkeyes on Friday night before closing out the trip against the seventh-ranked Gophers in Minneapolis on Sunday afternoon. Both matches will be available via BTN+ ($).
Cray got a decision over Ethan Rotondo at 125 pounds, while Ugalde found his first fall of the season at 174. The two New Jersey natives also led the way for Maryland at the Midlands Championships this season, as both advanced to the Round of 12 before falling one win shy of placing.
The third-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes enter the weekend with a perfect 11-0 record. The Hawkeyes are 6-0 in conference play, outscoring opponents 163-53. They have not allowed more than 13 points in a conference dual and held a trio of ranked opponents (Purdue, Illinois and Rutgers) to fewer than 10 points in their matchups.
Iowa will be led by 125-pounder and defending national champion Spencer Lee. Lee has suffered just one loss this season, losing to Northwestern's Sebastian Rivera in the Midlands Championships final. The Hawkeyes also boast the second-ranked wrestler in the 165-pound class, Alex Marinelli. Marinelli finished sixth at last year's NCAA Championships and Big Ten Championships.
Maryland's bout against the Hawkeyes will feature a highly-anticipated bout between heavyweight Sam Stoll and Maryland's Youssif Hemida. The two last met at the 2018 NCAA Championships, where Hemida pulled off a six-point move in the final minute of the contest to secure the victory over Stoll.
Minnesota will travel to Nebraska on Friday before coming home to host the Terrapins on Sunday afternoon. The seventh-ranked Gophers come into the weekend at 12-2 with a 5-1 record in Big Ten play. Their lone loss came against Iowa, but have responded to win four-straight matches since.
The Gophers will boast seven ranked wrestlers, including top-ranked Gable Steveson at heavyweight. The true freshman is undefeated on the season, with 10 wins over ranked opponents. He has an impressive 24 victories with 14 coming via bonus points.
Senior heavyweight Youssif Hemida has been strong since returning to dual action, posting a 4-1 record thus far. The 2018 NCAA All-American's lone dual loss come to No. 11 Trent Hillger of Wisconsin, where he fell by decision. Hemida enters the weekend with one ranked win on the season, defeating Nebraska's David Jensen. Jensen recently topped Iowa's Sam Stoll, defeating the now seventh-ranked heavyweight with a 3-0 decision.
Hemida will have his toughest tests to date this weekend, as he's expected to compete against Stoll and Minnesota's top-ranked heavyweight Gable Steveson. It will be the first-ever meeting between the freshman Steveson and Hemida, while Hemida and Stoll will square off for the fourth time in their collegiate careers.
Maryland has faced a strong schedule this season, with three matches coming against ranked opponents. The challenging slate will continue the rest of the way, with four more ranked matches expected to take place against Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan and Rutgers.
A handful of Terrapins earned their first dual and conference dual victories this season. Freshman Orion Anderson, redshirt freshmen Kyle Jasenski and Philip Spadafora, as well as redshirt sophomore Michael Doetsch, all earned the first dual victories of their careers this season. Additionally, Spadafora and Doetsch each earned the first B1G wins of their careers. Spadafora topped opponents from Purdue and Michigan State, while Doetsch also earned a win against the Spartans.
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 eight in open competition, 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.
Maryland will be back in action next weekend, hosting fourth-ranked Michigan at the XFINITY Center Pavilion on Friday. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and will air live on BTN+.
-TERPS-
PROJECTED STARTERS
| Maryland | No. 3 Iowa | |
|---|---|---|
| 125 | Brandon Cray (RSo. - Steinert, N.J.) |
No. 2 Spencer Lee (So. - Murrysville, Pa.) |
| 133 | Orion Anderson (Fr. - Schuylerville, N.Y) | No. 3 Austin DeSanto (So. - Exeter, Penn.) |
| 141 | Danny Bertoni (So. - Jefferson, Md. | No. 15 Max Murin (RFr. - Edensburg, Pa.) |
| 149 | Alfred Bannister (RSr. - La Plata, Md.) | No. 12 Pat Lugo (Jr. - Homestead, Fla.) |
| 157 | Adam Whitesell (RSr. - Silver Spring, Md.) OR Jahi Jones (RJr. - Fort Washington, Md.) OR Ryan Diehl (RSr. - Berkeley Springs, W.V.) |
No. 7 Kaleb Young (So. - Punxsutawney, Pa.) |
| 165 | Philip Spadafora (RFr. - Dix Hills, N.Y.) | No. 2 Alex Marinelli (So. - Miamisburg, Ohio) |
| 174 | Josh Ugalde (RJr. - Bound Brook, N.J.) | Mitch Bowman (Sr. - Donahue, Iowa) |
| 184 | Kyle Jasenski (RFr. - Schenectady, N.Y.) | No. 10 Cash Wilcke (Jr. - Battle Creek, Iowa) |
| 197 | Niko Cappello (RSo. - Cranford, N.J.) | No. 5 Jacob Warner (RFr. - Tolono, Ill.) |
| 285 | No. 9 Youssif Hemida (Sr. - Mamaroneck, N.Y.) | No. 7 Sam Stoll (Sr. - Kasson, Minn.) |
| Maryland | No. 7 Minnesota | |
|---|---|---|
| 125 | Brandon Cray (RSo. - Steinert, N.J.) | No. 6 Sean Russell (RSr. - Lawrenceville, Ga.) |
| 133 | Orion Anderson (Fr. - Schuylerville, N.Y) | No. 8 Ethan Lizak (RSr. - Schnecksville, Pa.) |
| 141 | Danny Bertoni (So. - Jefferson, Md.) | No. 10 Mitch McKee (Jr. - St. Michael, Minn.) |
| 149 | Alfred Bannister (RSr. - La Plata, Md.) | No. 19 Thomas Thorn (RSr. - St. Michael, Minn.) |
| 157 | Adam Whitesell (RSr. - Silver Spring, Md.) OR Jahi Jones (RJr. - Fort Washington, Md.) OR Ryan Diehl (RSr. - Berkeley Springs, W.V.) |
No. 8 Steve Bleise (RSr. - Chelsea, MI) |
| 165 | Philip Spadafora (RFr. - Dix Hills, N.Y.) | Carson Brolsma (RJr. - Osseo, Minn.) OR Jake Allar (RFr. - Medina, Minn.) |
| 174 | Josh Ugalde (RJr. - Bound Brook, N.J.) | No. 12 Devin Skatzka (RJr. - Richmond, MI) |
| 184 | Kyle Jasenski (RFr. - Schenectady, N.Y.) | Owen Webster (Jr. - Shakopee, Minn.) OR Brandon Krone (RSr. - Anoka, Minn.) |
| 197 | Niko Cappello (RSo. - Cranford, N.J.) | Dylan Anderson (RSo. - Hudson, Wisc.) |
| 285 | No. 9 Youssif Hemida (Sr. - Mamaroneck, N.Y.) | No. 1 Gable Steveson (Fr. - Apple Valley, Minn.) |
TERP SPOTLIGHT
| Josh Ugalde RJr. || 174 lbs. Bound Brook, N.J. Ugalde picked up his first dual win of the season in Maryland's contest against Wisconsin, pinning Pat Spray in the second period. It was Ugalde's second-ever B1G fall, previously pinning Beau Breske at the 2018 B1G Championships. |
LAST TIME OUT
Brandon Cray and Josh Ugalde each picked up their first dual victories of the season in Maryland's dual against No. 16 Wisconsin.Cray got a decision over Ethan Rotondo at 125 pounds, while Ugalde found his first fall of the season at 174. The two New Jersey natives also led the way for Maryland at the Midlands Championships this season, as both advanced to the Round of 12 before falling one win shy of placing.
SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES
The third-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes enter the weekend with a perfect 11-0 record. The Hawkeyes are 6-0 in conference play, outscoring opponents 163-53. They have not allowed more than 13 points in a conference dual and held a trio of ranked opponents (Purdue, Illinois and Rutgers) to fewer than 10 points in their matchups. Iowa will be led by 125-pounder and defending national champion Spencer Lee. Lee has suffered just one loss this season, losing to Northwestern's Sebastian Rivera in the Midlands Championships final. The Hawkeyes also boast the second-ranked wrestler in the 165-pound class, Alex Marinelli. Marinelli finished sixth at last year's NCAA Championships and Big Ten Championships.
Maryland's bout against the Hawkeyes will feature a highly-anticipated bout between heavyweight Sam Stoll and Maryland's Youssif Hemida. The two last met at the 2018 NCAA Championships, where Hemida pulled off a six-point move in the final minute of the contest to secure the victory over Stoll.
SCOUTING THE GOPHERS
Minnesota will travel to Nebraska on Friday before coming home to host the Terrapins on Sunday afternoon. The seventh-ranked Gophers come into the weekend at 12-2 with a 5-1 record in Big Ten play. Their lone loss came against Iowa, but have responded to win four-straight matches since. The Gophers will boast seven ranked wrestlers, including top-ranked Gable Steveson at heavyweight. The true freshman is undefeated on the season, with 10 wins over ranked opponents. He has an impressive 24 victories with 14 coming via bonus points.
#MOOSETIME
Senior heavyweight Youssif Hemida has been strong since returning to dual action, posting a 4-1 record thus far. The 2018 NCAA All-American's lone dual loss come to No. 11 Trent Hillger of Wisconsin, where he fell by decision. Hemida enters the weekend with one ranked win on the season, defeating Nebraska's David Jensen. Jensen recently topped Iowa's Sam Stoll, defeating the now seventh-ranked heavyweight with a 3-0 decision. Hemida will have his toughest tests to date this weekend, as he's expected to compete against Stoll and Minnesota's top-ranked heavyweight Gable Steveson. It will be the first-ever meeting between the freshman Steveson and Hemida, while Hemida and Stoll will square off for the fourth time in their collegiate careers.
BATTLE TESTED
Maryland has faced a strong schedule this season, with three matches coming against ranked opponents. The challenging slate will continue the rest of the way, with four more ranked matches expected to take place against Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan and Rutgers.
A SEASON OF FIRSTS
A handful of Terrapins earned their first dual and conference dual victories this season. Freshman Orion Anderson, redshirt freshmen Kyle Jasenski and Philip Spadafora, as well as redshirt sophomore Michael Doetsch, all earned the first dual victories of their careers this season. Additionally, Spadafora and Doetsch each earned the first B1G wins of their careers. Spadafora topped opponents from Purdue and Michigan State, while Doetsch also earned a win against the Spartans.
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 eight in open competition, 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.
UP NEXT
Maryland will be back in action next weekend, hosting fourth-ranked Michigan at the XFINITY Center Pavilion on Friday. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and will air live on BTN+.
-TERPS-
Players Mentioned
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149 pounds
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133 pounds
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174 pounds
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125 pounds
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141 pounds
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149 pounds
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285 pounds
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174 pounds
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157 pounds
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165 pounds
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174 pounds
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157 pounds
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