Jaxon Smith Earns Quarterfinal Berth, Four Terps Still Alive After Day One Of NCAA Championships
3/20/2025 10:24:00 PM | Wrestling
PHILADELPHIA – Jaxon Smith advanced to tomorrow's quarterfinals thanks to a pair of first-period pins on Day One of the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships. Four Terps overall remain alive and in contention for a podium spot.
After pinning Edinboro's No. 25 Jared McGill in his first match of the day, Smith got another pin in the Round of 16 over No. 9 Reece Heller of Pittsburgh. The two wins put Smith into tomorrow's quarterfinals and the Round of 12, his second career NCAA Championships quarterfinal appearance. Smith is one win away from securing All-American status; he would be the first Terp to do so since 2019. He will face No. 1 Carter Starocci in the quarterfinals.
Ethen Miller rebounded from a loss in the first round and dominated en route to a 14-2 major decision over No. 26 Blake Saito of Brown to stay alive on the backside of the bracket. He will meet No. 9 Tommy Askey tomorrow as he continues to push for the podium.
After winning their first match of the day and advancing to the Round of 16, Braxton Brown and Seth Nevills both dropped competitive matches. Both will be back tomorrow in the wrestlebacks with podium spots still in play.
As a team, the Terps currently sit in 17th place with 9.5 team points. It is already the most team points for the program since it tallied 13 in 2019.
Full Results:
133: 9-seed Braxton Brown
149: 26-seed Kal Miller
157: 10-seed Ethen Miller
174: 31-seed Branson John
184: 8-seed Jaxon Smith
285: 13-seed Seth Nevills
After pinning Edinboro's No. 25 Jared McGill in his first match of the day, Smith got another pin in the Round of 16 over No. 9 Reece Heller of Pittsburgh. The two wins put Smith into tomorrow's quarterfinals and the Round of 12, his second career NCAA Championships quarterfinal appearance. Smith is one win away from securing All-American status; he would be the first Terp to do so since 2019. He will face No. 1 Carter Starocci in the quarterfinals.
Ethen Miller rebounded from a loss in the first round and dominated en route to a 14-2 major decision over No. 26 Blake Saito of Brown to stay alive on the backside of the bracket. He will meet No. 9 Tommy Askey tomorrow as he continues to push for the podium.
After winning their first match of the day and advancing to the Round of 16, Braxton Brown and Seth Nevills both dropped competitive matches. Both will be back tomorrow in the wrestlebacks with podium spots still in play.
As a team, the Terps currently sit in 17th place with 9.5 team points. It is already the most team points for the program since it tallied 13 in 2019.
Full Results:
133: 9-seed Braxton Brown
- Round of 32: Brown dec. (3-2) No. 24 Kyle Burwick (NDSU)
- Round of 16: No. 8 Braeden Davis (Penn State) dec. (5-3) Brown
149: 26-seed Kal Miller
- Round of 32: No. 7 Kannon Webster (Illinois) major dec. (8-0) Miller
- Consi Round 1: No. 23 Carson DesRosier (Citadel) dec. (5-4) Miller
157: 10-seed Ethen Miller
- Round of 32: No. 23 Chase Saldate (Michigan) fall (6:50) Miller
- Cosni Round 1: Miller major dec. (14-2) No. 26 Blake Saito (Brown)
174: 31-seed Branson John
- Round of 32: No. 2 Levi Haines (Penn State) fall (2:46) John
- Consi Round 1: No. 15 Luca Augustine (Pittsburgh) major dec. (11-2) John
184: 8-seed Jaxon Smith
- Smith fall (2:48) No. 25 Jared McGill (Edinboro)
- Round of 16: Smith fall (2:45) No. 9 Reece Heller (Pittsburgh)
285: 13-seed Seth Nevills
- Round of 32: Nevills dec. (5-0) No. 20 Jordan Greer (Ohio)
- Round of 16: No. 4 Owen Trephan (Lehigh) dec. (8-3)
Players Mentioned
133 lbs
/ Wrestling
174 lbs
/ Wrestling
157 lbs
/ Wrestling
149 lbs
/ Wrestling
HWT
/ Wrestling
184 lbs
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