Terps Upset No. 10 Michigan 19-18, Earn First Top-10 Win Since 2009

ANN ARBOR, MI — Maryland wrestling opened up the 2025 Big Ten season in impressive fashion, stunning the 10th-ranked Michigan Wolverines, 19-18, getting the winning point on criteria thanks to Braxton Brown's pin at 133.

It was Maryland's first win over a top-10 team since Nov. 20, 2009, when the No. 10 Terps defeated No. 4 Cornell in Ithaca, by a score of 18-17. It was the first time the Terps beat a top-10 team as un ranked opponent since Nov. 24, 2007 when they topped No. 5 Michigan, 18-16.

Brown, who later proved to be the hero with the pivotal pin, got the Terps on the board with a huge pin and a clutch six points. After dropping a close one at 141, Kal and Ethen Miller took back-to-back decision victories over ranked opponents to make it 12-7 at intermission. Ethen's win, over top-20 opponent Chase Saldate, moved him to 13-0 on the season.

True freshman Branson John secured the biggest win of his young career, getting a takedown in the final 40 seconds and riding out the rest of the period to secure a win and put the Terps ahead 15-10. Jaxon Smith followed the trend in the next bout, throwing his opponent to his back for the winning takedown right at the buzzer.

The final score was 18-18, but the Terps had the lone pin of the match, giving them the victory on criteria points, 19-18.

Full Results:

125: Christian Tanefeu major dec. (12-4) Tyler Garvin (Michigan 4, Maryland 0)
133: No. 14/15 Braxton Brown fall (5:45) Nolan Wertanen (Maryland 6, Michigan 4)
141: No. 12/9 Sergio Lemley dec. (6-3) Dario Lemus (Michigan 7, Maryland 6)
149: No. 29/32 Kal Miller dec. (4-3) No. 28 Derek Gilcher dec. (Maryland 9, Michigan 7)
157: No. 6/8 Ethen Miller dec. (4-2) No. 16/19 Chase Saldate (Maryland 12, Michigan 7)
165: No. 26 Beau Mantanona dec. (6-4) Alex Uryniak (Maryland 12, Michigan 10)
174: No. 32 Branson John dec. (5-4) No. 25 Joseph Walker (Maryland 15, Michigan 10)
184: No. 13/11 Jaxon Smith dec. (4-1) No. 19 Jaden Bullock (Maryland 18, Michigan 10)
197: No. 3/2 Jacob Cardenas tech fall (15-0, 4:54) Chase Mielnik (Maryland 18, Michigan 15)
285: No. 10/12 Josh Heindselman dec. (4-2) No. 13/14 Seth Nevills (Maryland 18, Michigan 18)
***the Terps earned a point on criteria for the pin at 133, making the final score 19-18 in favor of Maryland

Up Next

The Terps will wrap up their weekend in Michigan when they face the Spartans in East Lansing on Sunday, Jan. 12. The dual will start at 1 pm and air on B1G+.

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Players Mentioned

Braxton Brown: 133 lbs; Redshirt Junior

Dario Lemus: 141 lbs; Redshirt Freshman

Chase Mielnik: 197 lbs; Redshirt Senior

Ethen Miller: 157 lbs; Redshirt Junior

Kal Miller: 149 lbs; Junior

Seth Nevills: HWT; Graduate Student

Jaxon Smith: 184 lbs; Redshirt Junior

Branson John: 174 lbs; Freshman

Tyler Garvin: 125 lbs; Freshman

Alex Uryniak: 165 lbs; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Braxton Brown
: Redshirt Junior
: 133 lbs

Dario Lemus
: Redshirt Freshman
: 141 lbs

Chase Mielnik
: Redshirt Senior
: 197 lbs

Ethen Miller
: Redshirt Junior
: 157 lbs

Kal Miller
: Junior
: 149 lbs

Seth Nevills
: Graduate Student
: HWT

Jaxon Smith
: Redshirt Junior
: 184 lbs

Branson John
: Freshman
: 174 lbs

Tyler Garvin
: Freshman
: 125 lbs

Alex Uryniak
: Freshman
: 165 lbs