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Ryan Kennedy

Wrestling

Maryland Wrestling Continues Big Ten Slate vs. No. 1 Penn State in Newly Rescheduled Dual


Maryland Terrapins (4-5, 0-4 B1G)
vs.
#1 Penn State (9-0, 3-0 B1G)
NOTE NEW DATE January 24, 2026
Schanwald Pavilion
NOTE NEW TIME5:00 p.m. EST
B1G+ (Free all weekend)

COLLEGE PARK, MD — The Terps will continue their home 2026 Big Ten slate on Saturday, January 24 against No. 1 Penn State in a newly scheduled time due to upcoming winter weather.The dual will take place at Schanwald Pavilion at 5 p.m. ET.

Tickets already purchased for the sold out dual will remain valid for the new date and time.

The match will now air on B1G+. The stream will be free on B1G+ as special due to the expected snow storm. 

 
Career Firsts against B1G Foe
  • True freshmen Ryan Kennedy and Sepanta-Ahanj Elias each earned their first career dual wins for the Terps against No. 18 Wisconsin on Sunday, Jan. 11.
  • At 141 pounds, Kennedy secured a tightly contested 6–3 decision over Wisconsin's Carson Exferd after the bout was scoreless through the first period. He sealed the win with a late takedown in the final 45 seconds.
  • At 184, Ahanj-Elias, wrestling a weight class down, dominated David Malin en route to a 13–1 major decision, controlling the match from start to finish.
Ryan Kennedy
Kennedy secured a tightly contested 6–3 decision over Wisconsin's Carson Exferd
new Kid on the Block
  • The Terps added a dynamic competitor in Carter Young as a mid-year transfer from Oklahoma State, marking the first mid-year addition of the Clemsen era. Young has opened his Maryland career 8–0, outscoring opponents 90–24.
  • He made an immediate impact, rolling through his early matches with multiple bonus-point victories and securing a statement 7–5 decision over No. 8 Cross Wasilewski. Young later finished sixth at the Southern Scuffle, with match-count limitations impacting his final placement.
  • That momentum has carried into Big Ten competition. Young opened conference action with a 5–1 decision over Northwestern's Sam Cartella, followed by ranked wins over No. 17 Joseph Zargo of Wisconsin (11–6) and No. 21 Gavin Brown of Purdue (6–3), before adding an 8–1 decision against Indiana's Joey Butler.
  • At Oklahoma State, Young was a reliable starter and steady presence in both duals and open tournaments. During the 2024–25 season, he started nearly every match, compiled a 10–10 record with five bonus-point victories, and placed fifth at both the Michigan State Open and the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.
  • Earlier in his career at 141 pounds, Young qualified for the 2022–23 NCAA Championships with a fifth-place finish at the Big 12 Championships. He recorded multiple top-10 wins—including a career-best victory over No. 3 Jake Bergeland—and earned Big 12 Wrestler of the Week honors.
Carter Young
Terps added a dynamic competitor in Carter Young as a mid-year transfer from Oklahoma State
About the Terps
  • The Terps are coming off 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 secured the most regular-season dual wins in program history. A signature moment came with a victory over No. 10 Michigan — the program's first win 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, becoming the program's first All-American since 2019. The Terps qualified six wrestlers for the NCAA Championships — their most since 2012 — including returners Braxton BrownBranson John, and Jaxon Smith, while also setting a new program record for Big Ten dual victories.
  • Head Coach Alex Clemsen enters his seventh season leading the program, joined by associate head coach Nick Brascetta. Assistant coach Ethan Laird returns for his third season, while Cole Matthews has been promoted to assistant coach in his second year with the Terps.
Jaxon Smith of Maryland Wrestling on the Podium of the NCAA National Championships at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA on Saturday March 22, 2025.Allison Mize/Maryland Terrapins
Jaxon Smith earned All-American honors with a sixth-place finish at 184 pounds last season.
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Players Mentioned

Braxton Brown

Braxton Brown

133 lbs
Redshirt Senior
Branson John

Branson John

197 lbs
Sophomore
Jaxon Smith

Jaxon Smith

184 lbs
Redshirt Senior
Ryan Kennedy

Ryan Kennedy

141 lbs
Freshman
Carter Young

Carter Young

149 lbs
Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

Braxton Brown

Braxton Brown

Redshirt Senior
133 lbs
Branson John

Branson John

Sophomore
197 lbs
Jaxon Smith

Jaxon Smith

Redshirt Senior
184 lbs
Ryan Kennedy

Ryan Kennedy

Freshman
141 lbs
Carter Young

Carter Young

Redshirt Senior
149 lbs