Jaxon Smith Finishes Third, Kal Miller Qualifies For NCAAs on Second Day of Big Ten Championships

ANN ARBOR, MI -- Maryland wrestling had a huge day on the final day of the 2023 Big Ten Championships, highlighted by a third-place finish for Jaxon Smith and an NCAA Qualification from Kal Miller.

Sixth-seeded Smith took down reigning NCAA runner-up No. 5 Jacob Warner (IOWA) thanks to a takedown in sudden victory to put himself in the third-place match, setting up a rematch with Illinois' third-seeded Zac Braunagel. Smith and Braunagel headed to sudden victory for the second time this tournament, and this time Smith came out on the right side with a smooth single-leg takedown. Smith's finish is the highest for a Terp at the Big Ten championships since Youssif Hemida's third-place finish in 2019.

Kal Miller stole the show with an impressive run through the ninth place bracket after coming into the championships as the 14th seed. He knocked out No. 6 Danny Pucino (for the second time this tournament) and No. 7 Joe Olivieri (Rutgers) on the day to complete an improbable run to NCAA qualification. Miller joins his brother, Ethen Miller, and Jaxon Smith as the third Terp to receive an automatic qualification to NCAAs.

Braxton Brown also won a pair of matches in the ninth-place bracket to secure the ninth-place title. He is in prime position to receive a wild card bid to the NCAA Tournament on Tuesday, along with Maryland's heavyweight Jaron Smith.

Ethen Miller and Chance Lamer double forfeited in the seventh place match. Miller finished in eighth due to Lamer winning a match between them earlier in the tournament. Miller joined Smith as the second Terp to finish on the podium.

The Terps finished the tournament with 24 team points The last time the Terps had a team point total that high came in the 2018 Big Ten Championships when the team finished with 30.5. The three NCAA qualifiers is also the most since 2018.

Full Results

125-Pounds: Braxton Brown

Round of 16: No. 7 Brown major dec. No. 10 Gary Steen (PSU)
Quarters: No. 2 Liam Cronin (NEB) dec. (11-7) No. 7 Brown
Consi Round 2: No. 8 Dean Peterson (RUT) dec. (8-3) No. 7 Brown
Ninth-Place Semis: No. 7 Brown fall (0:58) No. 12 Jacob Moran (IND)
Ninth-Place Finals: No. 7 Brown dec. (7-4) No. 11 Tristan Lujan (MSU)

133-Pounds: Jackson Cockrell

Round of 16: No. 3 Lucas Byrd (ILL) fall (4:12) No. 14 Cockrell
Consi Round 1: No. 11 Henry Porter (IND) fall (0:16) No. 14 Cockrell
Ninth-Place Quarters: No. 11 Porter tech fall (17-2) No. 14 Cockrell

141-Pounds: Kal Miller

Round of 16: No. 3 Brock Hardy (NEB) dec. (6-0) No. 14 Miller
Consi Round 1: No. 14 Miller dec. (4-1) No. 6 Danny Pucino (ILL)
Consi Round 2: No. 5 Jakob Bergeland (MINN) SV (4-2) No. 14 Miller
Ninth-Place Quarters: No. 14 Miller dec. (9-3) No. 10 Cole Mattin (MICH)
Ninth-Place Semis: No. 14 Miller dec. (8-5) Pucino (ILL)
Ninth-Place Finals: No. 14 Miller dec. (3-2) No. 7 Joe Olivieri (RUT)

149-Pounds: Ethen Miller

Round of 16: No. 9 Chance Lamer (MICH) SV (5-3) No. 8 Miller
Consi Round 2: No. 8 Miller advanced by DQ from No. 2 Austin Gomez (MINN)
Consi Quarters: No. 3 Yahya Thomas (NU) wins by MFF
7th-Place Match: No. 8 Miller and Lamer DFF

157-Pounds: Michael North

Round of 16: No. 3 Kendall Coleman (PUR) major dec. (12-3) No. 14 North
Consi Round 1: No. 14 North fall (0:38) No. 11 Brayton Lee (MINN)
Consi Round 2: No. 5 Cobe Siebrecht (IOWA) fall (3:33) No. 14 North
9th-Place Quarters: No. 13 Andrew Clark (RUT) dec. (4-0) No. 14 North

165-Pounds: John Martin Best

Round of 16: No. 3 Patrick Kenneday (IOWA) major dec. (22-8) No. 14 Best
Consi Round 1: No. 11 Nick South (IND) dec. (4-0) Best
9th-Place Quarters: Best win by MFF
9th-Place Semis: No. 7 Caleb Fish (MSU) SV (3-1) No. 14 Best

174-Pounds: Dominic Solis

Round of 16: No. 5 Edmond Ruth (ILL) dec. (5-1) Solis
Consi Round 1: Solis dec. (5-1) No. 13 Josh Otto (WIS)
Consi Round 2: No. 6 Donnell Washington (IND) dec. (11-6) No. 12 Solis

184-Pounds: Kevin Makosy

Round of 16: No. 3 Isaiah Salazar (MINN) tech fall (18-0) Makosy
Consi Round 1: No. 11 Evan Bates (NU) dec. (6-0) No. 14 Makosy
9th-Place Quarters: Bates dec. Makosy

197-Pounds: Jaxon Smith

Round of 16: No. 6 Smith dec. (8-3) No. 11 Billy Janzer (Rutgers)
Quarterfinals: No. 3 Zac Braunagel (ILL) SV (6-4) No. 6 Smith
Consi Round 2: No. 6 Smith dec. (3-1) No. 12 Andrew Davison (NU)
Consi Quarters: No. 6 Smith dec. (3-1) No. 8 Braxton Amos (WIS)
Consi Semis: No. 6 Smith SV (3-1) No. 5 Jacob Warner (IOWA)
3rd-Place Match: No. 6 Smith SV (5-3) Braunagel (ILL)

HWT: Jaron Smith

Round of 16: No. 8 Jacob Bullock (IND) dec. (4-1) No. 9 Smith
Consi Round 2: No. 7 Tate Orndorff (OSU) dec. (4-2) No. 9 Smith
9th-Place Semis: No. 11 Garrett Joles dec. (11-6) No. 9 Smith

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Players Mentioned

John Martin Best: 165 lbs; Redshirt Freshman

Braxton Brown: 125 lbs; Redshirt Freshman

Kevin Makosy: 184 lbs.; Redshirt Junior

Ethen Miller: 149 lbs; Redshirt Freshman

Michael North: 149 lbs.; Redshirt Junior

Jaron Smith: HWT; Graduate Student

Jaxon Smith: 197 lbs; Redshirt Freshman

Dominic Solis: 174/184 lbs; Sophomore

Kal Miller: 141 lbs; Freshman

Players Mentioned

John Martin Best
: Redshirt Freshman
: 165 lbs

Braxton Brown
: Redshirt Freshman
: 125 lbs

Kevin Makosy
: Redshirt Junior
: 184 lbs.

Ethen Miller
: Redshirt Freshman
: 149 lbs

Michael North
: Redshirt Junior
: 149 lbs.

Jaron Smith
: Graduate Student
: HWT

Jaxon Smith
: Redshirt Freshman
: 197 lbs

Dominic Solis
: Sophomore
: 174/184 lbs

Kal Miller
: Freshman
: 141 lbs