COLLEGE PARK, MD – The Maryland wrestling team will open its 2025-26 season this Sunday, November 2, at the Southeast Open in Salem, Va.

Seventeen Terrapins will travel and compete in the open-style tournament, each looking to capture a title in their respective bracket. Action is set to begin at 9 a.m. and will continue throughout the day.

Fans can watch and follow along with the competition on FloWrestling.

Terrapins registered to compete:

125 lbs: Abram Cline, Tyler Garvin

133 lbs: Braxton Brown

141 lbs: Dario Lemus, Clayton Gabrielson

149 lbs: Jackson Young, Michael Pizzuto

157 lbs: Garrett Reece 

165 lbs: AJ Rodrigues, John Martin Best, Alex Uryniak

174 lbs: Seth Digby, Dominic Solis

197 lbs: Branson John, Sepanta Ahanj-Elias

HWT: Joey Schneck, Oscar Williams

• In 2024–25, the Terps posted one of their most successful seasons since joining the Big Ten. Maryland set program records for points and individual placers at the Big Ten Championships, recorded its highest team finish, and achieved the most regular-season dual wins in program history. Key highlights included a win over No. 10 Michigan — the first over a top-10 opponent since Nov. 20, 2009.
• At the NCAA Championships, Maryland matched its highest team point total and finish since 2014. Jaxon Smith earned All-American honors with a sixth-place finish at 184 pounds, marking the program's first All-American since 2019. The Terps qualified six wrestlers for the NCAA Championships, the most since 2012, including Braxton Brown, Branson John, and Jaxon Smith, while setting a new program record for Big Ten dual victories.

 

Jaxon Smith earned All-American honors with a sixth-place finish at 184 pounds in 2025.

• Maryland returns a core of wrestlers who were NCAA qualifiers in 2025, including Braxton Brown, Branson John, and Jaxon Smith. They are expected to provide leadership and continuity for the 2025–26 season.
• Braxton Brown returns as a three-time NCAA qualifier (2023–25) and one of Maryland's consistent performers. He finished the 2024–25 season with a 24–6 overall record, advancing to the Round of 16 at the NCAA Championships as the No. 9 seed. In dual competition, he posted an 18–1 record, including 7–1 in Big Ten matches, with eight major decisions, four technical falls, and two pins. At the Big Ten Championships, Brown placed fifth, including sudden-victory wins over Dylan Shawver and Jacob Van Dee. He also finished second at the 2024 Tiger Style Invite and secured victories over ranked opponents Anthony Noto (Lock Haven), Kurt Phipps (Bucknell), and Shawver (Rutgers). Following the season, Brown received both the John C. McHugh Coach's Award and the Hudson Taylor Award.
• Branson John returns after a freshman season that included national recognition and postseason experience. He finished the season 14–19 and placed sixth at the 2025 Big Ten Championships, defeating higher-seeded wrestlers including Clayton Whiting (Minnesota), Jackson Turley (Rutgers), and Brody Baumann (Purdue). In dual matches, John recorded wins over Michigan's Joseph Walker and Rutgers' Turley, and a pin against Lock Haven's Avery Bassett. He began his collegiate career with a win in his dual debut against Kent State's Hunter Andel and placed fourth at the 2024 Tiger Style Invite. John was also named an NWCA Scholar All-American.
• Jaxon Smith returns as a three-time NCAA qualifier and three-time Big Ten placer. He earned All-American honors in 2025 with a sixth-place finish at 184 pounds — the first for Maryland since 2019 and the first under head coach Alex Clemsen. Smith ended the 2024–25 season 24–10, tied for the team lead in wins, with nine victories by decision, six by major decision, five pins, and four technical falls. At the NCAA Championships, he secured All-American status with a 4–2 victory over D.J. Parker (Oklahoma) and defeated Silas Allred (Nebraska) 8–1 for a top-six finish. Smith placed fourth at the Big Ten Championships, including wins over Gabe Arnold (Iowa) and Allred, and defeated ranked opponents Reece Heller (Pittsburgh), Jaden Bullock (Michigan), Edmond Ruth (Illinois), and Shane Cartangia-Walsh (Rutgers) during the regular season. He opened his junior campaign 8–0, winning six matches by bonus points, and claimed the George Mason Patriot Open title over two ranked opponents, including No. 9 Chris Foca (Cornell). Smith also earned a bronze medal at the 2025 U23 Pan-American Championships and was runner-up at the U23 Nationals. He received multiple honors, including Maryland Male Medal of Honor, Maryland Student-Athlete of the Year, Hudson Taylor Award, Maryland Most Outstanding Wrestler, and NWCA Scholar All-American.

 

Braxton Brown returns as a three-time NCAA qualifier (2023–25) and one of Maryland's consistent performers.

• Maryland added seven freshmen and one transfer for the 2025–26 season.
• Chase Horne, a redshirt junior transfer from NC State, competed at both heavyweight (285 lbs) and 197 lbs over three seasons. In 2023–24, he wrestled exclusively at heavyweight, posting a 13–6 record, including several first-period pins to start the season. Horne competed in four tournaments and earned recognition off the mat, including the ACC Dr. Pepper Go Teach Scholarship, All-ACC Academic Team, and ACC Academic Honor Roll.
• Garrett Reece joins Maryland after a high school career at Regis Jesuit High School (CO). A 2024 Colorado State Champion, Reece finished his senior season 47–1 and was Fargo Greco-Roman Runner-Up in 2024. He also was a two-time state finalist and 2023 state runner-up. Reece will compete at 157 pounds.
• Ryan Kennedy arrives from SPIRE Academy (OH), where he ranked No. 16 nationally at his weight by FloWrestling and No. 235 overall in MatScouts senior rankings. Kennedy was a 2025 U20 U.S. Open All-American (7th), 2025 Escape the Rock Champion, NHSCA Senior Runner-Up, and placed eighth at the 2024 Powerade Tournament.

Freshmen Garrett Reece and Ryan Kennedy are expected to make an impact in their first season.