The Maryland wrestling team’s trying season came to a disappointing end Saturday night. The Terps had two chances to add to pick up wins and came up short both times.
The Terps (2-16, 0-9 Big Ten) lost, 23-20, to Rider in the afternoon before dropping their final dual match of the season to Drexel, 20-12. It marked their 12th consecutive loss as they now turn to prepare for the Big Ten Tournament, which starts March 4 in Bloomington, Indiana.
The Terps jumped out to a 15-3 lead over the Broncs in the early match thanks to consecutive pins from 141-pound redshirt sophomore Ryan Diehl and 149-pound redshirt sophomore Adam Whitesell.
However, Rider went on to win five straight matches before a forfeit in the heavyweight class gave the Terps six more points to cut the gap to three.
In the later match, Maryland and Drexel traded wins in the first six bouts before the Dragons won three straight in the 174-, 184- and 197-pound classes. Maryland heavyweight Youssif Hemida earned a win in sudden victory to give the Terps three more points.
Hemida and Diehl were the only Maryland grapplers to pick up wins in both matches. The Terps got one win each from Whitesell, 125-pound junior Michael Beck, 133-pound redshirt senior Billy Rappo and 157-pound redshirt junior Justin Alexander.
