Maryland Terrapins
vs
Gardner-Webb
November 15, 2025
USS Yorktown (CV-10)
10:00 a.m.
FloWrestling
Watch
Maryland Terrapins
vs
The Citadel
November 15, 2025
USS Yorktown (CV-10)
3:00 p.m.
FloWrestling
Watch
College Park, Md. — The Maryland wrestling team will travel to Charleston, S.C., to compete in the Throwdown on the Yorktown.
The Terps will take on Gardner-Webb University at 10 a.m. and The Citadel at 3 p.m. in a tri-meet held aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-10), an Essex-class aircraft carrier built during World War II.The first matchup between Maryland and Gardner-Webb could feature a top-20 showdown at 133 pounds between the Terps' Braxton Brown (No. 10) and the Bulldogs' Takeo Davis (No. 19).
The Citadel enters the meet with two ranked wrestlers projected in its lineup: Carson DesRosier (No. 21) at 149 pounds and Thomas Snipes (No. 13) at 165.
Fans can follow all the action live on FloWrestling.
Maryland Probables:
125: Abram Cline or Tyler Garvin
133: Braxton Brown
141: Dario Lemus or Clayton Gabrielson
149: Michael Pizzuto or Jackson Young
157: Mekhi Neal
165: Alex Uryniak or AJ Rodrigues
174: Dom Solis
184: Jaxon Smith
195: Branson John or Anthony Bradley
285: Oscar Williams or Joey Schneck
Citadel Probables:
125: Gylon Sims OR Tyler Washburn
133: Teegan Vasquez OR Marcus Wright
141: George Rosas
149: Carson DesRosier OR Thomas Termini
157: Jacob Silka OR Kyrel Leavell
165: Thomas Snipes OR Parker Kearns
174: Braxton Russell
184: Brodie Porter OR Owen Hendricks
197: Adam Ortega OR Roy Price III
285: John Chesser OR Mason Ayers
About the USS Yorktown (CV-10)
- Commissioned in 1943, the USS Yorktown earned 11 battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation for its service in the Pacific during World War II.
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Later modernized, the ship also saw action in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, earning additional battle stars, and even served as the recovery vessel for the historic Apollo 8 space mission.
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Decommissioned in 1970, the Yorktown now serves as a museum ship and National Historic Landmark at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
the USS Yorktown in Mount Pleasant, SC
Ranked Terps Through Two Weeks
Jaxon Smith remains in the top five in the 184 weight class.
Journeymen Collegiate Classic – Second Weekend Highlights
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The Terps continued their early-season success with another strong showing at the 2025 Journeymen Collegiate Classic in Bethlehem, Pa.
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Maryland crowned three individual champions: Jaxon Smith (184 Black Pool), Mekhi Neal (157 Green Pool), and Branson John (197 Black Pool).
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Branson John captured his second consecutive tournament title, following his Southeast Open victory.
- John went undefeated in pool competition with a 9-1 major decision and a 6-3 sudden-victory win, then shut out Zyan Hall 5-0 in the finals.
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Mekhi Neal (157) went 3-0 en route to the pool title, posting a 15-0 technical fall, an 11-5 decision, and an 11-7 victory over Navy's Charlie Evans.
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Jaxon Smith (184) dominated his bracket with wins of 18-3 (technical fall), 8-0 (major decision), and 7-4 over Franklin & Marshall's James Conway to secure first place.
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Runner-up finishes came from Dario Lemus (141 Black Pool), AJ Rodriguez (165 Blue Pool), Sepanta Ahanj-Elias (197 Blue Pool), and Joey Schneck (285 Green Pool).
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Abram Cline (125 Red Pool) and Tyler Garvin (125 Blue Pool) both finished undefeated (3-0) in round-robin competition.
Mekhi Neal (157) went 3-0 en route to the pool title at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic.
Strong First Weekend
- Branson John Dominates to Win 197 Title:
- Maryland wrestling opened the 2025-26 campaign with a strong team performance at the Southeast Open, led by Branson John's championship run at 197 pounds. The redshirt junior was in top form from start to finish, recording four straight bonus-point victories en route to the title. John opened his day with a technical fall and a dominant major decision before defeating two nationally ranked opponents to claim the top. He took down No. 29 Gavin Nelson (Minnesota) in the semifinals and capped off the tournament with an impressive win over No. 27 Rune Lawrence (West Virginia) in the finals. His breakout performance not only earned him the tournament crown but also propelled him into the national rankings for the first time this season, debuting at No. 22 by FloWrestling and No. 16 by InterMat.
- Multiple Terps Place Across Divisions:
- The Terrapins showcased their depth across all weight classes at the Southeast Open, earning multiple podium finishes in both the Open and Freshman/Sophomore divisions.
- Braxton Brown (133) continued to build with a strong runner-up finish in the Open Division. Brown opened the day with three straight victories, including a 13-0 major decision in the semifinals, before falling to Virginia Tech's Dillon Campbell in the championship bout.
- At heavyweight, Oscar Williams (285 Freshman/Sophomore) also reached the finals after an impressive 4-1 day that featured three bonus-point victories.
- Dario Lemus (141) battled through a tough field to claim third place, earning three wins capped by a major decision in the consolation final. At 125 pounds, Abram Cline (Freshman/Sophomore) pieced together an excellent run to the finals, securing three straight decision victories before finishing as runner-up.
- In the 197 Freshman/Sophomore division, Sepanta Ahanj-Elias earned a fifth-place finish, closing his tournament with a 12-4 major decision over Campbell's Sawyer Vanrider. Fellow freshman Tyler Garvin (125) also battled back for fifth, rallying through the consolation bracket to score an 11-10 comeback victory over VMI's Malachi Ortiz.
Maryland wrestling opened the 2025-26 campaign with a strong team performance at the Southeast Open, led by
Branson John's championship run at 197 pounds.
2024–25 Season Recap
- 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.
Returning Impact
- 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.
New Faces in College Park
- Maryland added seven freshmen and one transfer for the 2025–26 season.
- 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.
