PITTSBURGH -- Senior heavyweight Youssif Hemida closed out a prestigious Maryland wrestling career on Saturday, taking home a sixth-place finish and All-American status at the 2019 NCAA Championships in Pittsburgh. 

The two-time NCAA All-American picked up five victories over the course of the event, including a pair over ranked opponents. The Mamaroneck, New York native wrestled five ranked opponents in the tournament, including top-five ranked heavyweights Gable Steveson (Minnesota) and Amar Dhesi (Oregon State). He also was able to tally a pair of wins by fall in Saturday's action, pinning Gannon Gremmel (Iowa State) and Tate Orndorff (Utah Valley). 

The event also saw Hemida pick up a victory over Iowa's Sam Stoll, besting the heavyweight by decision for the second consecutive season at the NCAA Championships. 

Hemida became just the eighth wrestler in Maryland history to earn All-American plaudits twice in his career, as he previously placed eighth in the 2018 event. Maryland's last two-time NCAA All-American was current associate head coach Jimmy Sheptock, who accomplished the feat when he was an All-American for the second time in 2014. It was also the 29th time in program history that a Maryland wrestler was an NCAA All-American. 

A 2018 U23 World silver medalist, Hemida ends his career as a three-time Big Ten placer and NCAA qualifier. His highest Big Ten placing came this season, where he won five consecutive bouts to finish third in the event. That was the highest Maryland placing at the Big Ten Championships in program history and made Hemida the highest-placing Maryland wrestler at the conference tournament since the Terrapins joined the Big Ten. It was also Maryland's highest placing in a conference tournament since Sheptock placed first at the 2014 ACC Championships. 

Hemida's 2019 season comes to a close with an overall record of 21-9, making it the third consecutive season he won at least 20 matches. He ends his collegiate career with 86 victories between open and dual competition. 

Hemida was also a three-time team captain and Academic All-Big Ten. He was also a 2018 NWCA Academic All-American.