MINNEAPOLIS -- Senior heavyweight Youssif Hemida posted three wins and secured his third-consecutive NCAA Championships appearance following the conclusion of Sessions I and II at the 2019 Big Ten Championships on Saturday. 

The returning NCAA All-American entered the competition unseeded, but managed to top a trio of opponents in the consolation flight to earn his spot in the national tournament later this month. His day included an upset victory over fifth-seeded Chase Singletary of Ohio State in his second consolation bout. 

After dropping his opening bout by decision, Hemida came back and won in dominant fashion over Illinois' Deuce Rachal in his first consolation contest. Hemida topped Rachal by major decision, earning his spot in the second consolation round against Singletary. 

There wasn't much action between Hemida and the Buckeye freshman through the first minute of the bout, but Hemida secured the first takedown with a powerful single leg on the edge of the circle. He would then go on to tally a pair of takedowns later in the period to extend his lead to 6-1 through one period. 

Singletary had a strong ride in the second, controlling all two minutes of the frame but ultimately being unable to put any points on the board. 

Hemida would then use a late takedown in the third period to get it done by a final score of 9-6, setting up a match with Purdue's Jacob Aven for a spot on the podium. 

After a scoreless first period, Aven chose to start on bottom in the second. The Purdue heavyweight tallied a reversal in the period, but Hemida escaped to make it 2-1 entering the third and final frame. Hemida escaped to tie the score at two, and then used a takedown out of a scramble in the center of the mat to lock up a victory. 

It was the second time Hemida bested Aven this season, previously winning in Maryland's dual at Purdue earlier this season. 

Hemida will now wrestle Northwestern's Conan Jennings in tomorrow's Session III. The winner of the bout will advance to Sunday afternoon's third-place match, while the loser will drop into the fifth-place contest. The Maryland heavyweight will be looking to improve upon a 7th-place finish in 2017 and a 6th-place finish last season. 

For full results from the first two sessions of the 2019 Big Ten Championships, please see below.  125
Brandon Cray

• Champ. Round 1 - Drew Mattin (Michigan) won by major decision over Brandon Cray (Maryland) (MD 13-3)
• Cons. Round 1 - Ethan Rotondo (Wisconsin) won by decision over Brandon Cray (Maryland) (Dec 7-5)
• 9^th-Place Round 1 – Ethan Rotondo (Wisconsin) won by decision over Brandon Cray (Maryland) (Dec 7-5)

133
Orion Anderson

• Champ. Round 1 - Nick Suriano (Rutgers) won by fall over Orion Anderson (Maryland) (Fall 2:14)
• Cons. Round 1 - Jens Lantz (Wisconsin) won by fall over Orion Anderson (Maryland) (Fall 4:05)
• 9^th-Place Round 1 – Jens Lantz (Wisconsin) won by major decision over Orion Anderson (Maryland) (MD 16-3)

141
Danny Bertoni

• Champ. Round 1 - Tristan Moran (Wisconsin) won by major decision over Danny Bertoni (Maryland) (MD 14-4)
• Cons. Round 1 - Austin Eicher (Michigan State) won by fall over Danny Bertoni (Maryland) (Fall 4:55)
• 9^th-Place Round 1 – Austin Eicher (Michigan State) won by decision over Danny Bertoni (Maryland) (DEC 3-1)

149
Alfred Bannister

• Champ. Round 1 - Micah Jordan (Ohio State) won by major decision over Alfred Bannister (Maryland) (MD 17-6)
• Cons. Round 2 - Malik Amine (Michigan) won by decision over Alfred Bannister (Maryland) (Dec 5-3)

157
Adam Whitesell

• Champ. Round 1 - Ryan Deakin (Northwestern) won by major decision over Adam Whitesell (Maryland) (MD 12-3)
• Cons. Round 1 - Jake Danishek (Indiana) won by major decision over Adam Whitesell (Maryland) (MD 12-2)
• 9^th-Place Round 1 – Jake Danishek (Indiana) won by fall over Adam Whitesell (Maryland) (Fall 2:11)

165
Phillip Spadafora

• Champ. Round 1 - Bryce Martin (Indiana) won by decision over Phillip Spadafora (Maryland) (Dec 9-2)
• Cons. Round 1 - Cole Wysocki (Purdue) won by decision over Phillip Spadafora (Maryland) (Dec 5-2)
• 9^th-Place Round 1 – Cole Wysocki (Purdue) won by decision over Philip Spadafora (Maryland) (Dec 5-3)

174
Josh Ugalde

• Champ. Round 1 - Mikey Labriola (Nebraska) won by fall over Josh Ugalde (Maryland) (Fall 0:50)
• Cons. Round 1 - Jake Covaciu (Indiana) won by decision over Josh Ugalde (Maryland) (Dec 8-2)
• 9^th-Place Round 1 – Jake Covaciu (Indiana) won by decision over Josh Ugalde (Maryland) (DEC 7-2)

184
Kyle Jasenski

• Champ. Round 1 - Emery Parker (Illinois) won by decision over Kyle Jasenski (Maryland) (Dec 7-3)
• Cons. Round 1 - Brandon Krone (Minnesota) won by major decision over Kyle Jasenski (Maryland) (MD 13-2)
• 9^th-Place Round 1 – Brandon Krone (Minnesota) won by decision over Kyle Jasenski (Maryland) (Dec 5-2)

197
Niko Cappello

• Champ. Round 1 - Eric Schultz (Nebraska) won by tech fall over Niko Cappello (Maryland) (TF- 27-11)
• Cons. Round 1 - Zack Chakonis (Northwestern) won by decision over Niko Cappello (Maryland) (Dec 9-5)

285
Youssif Hemida

• Champ. Round 1 - Mason Parris (Michigan) won by decision over Youssif Hemida (Maryland) (Dec 8-5)
• Cons. Round 1 - Youssif Hemida (Maryland) won by major decision over Duece Rachal (Illinois) (MD 13-4)
• Cons. Round 2 - Youssif Hemida (Maryland) won by decision over Chase Singletary (Ohio State) (Dec 9-6)
• Cons. Round 3 – Youssif Hemida (Maryland) won by decision over Jacob Aven (Purdue) (Dec 4-3)