Fresh off its first dual win of the season, Maryland wrestling is hungry for more. And with only two regular-season duals remaining, the Terps’ talented senior class is vying to cement a rough campaign with some bright moments.
Maryland (1-11, 0-8 Big Ten) will finish its dual season against No. 16 Rutgers (11-6, 4-4) and Rider (8-4), two challenging matchups that will be the final test for the seniors and the rest of the team before postseason play.
Friday’s tilt against Rutgers will be the Terps’ Senior Day, and the team will be sending off a trio of accomplished wrestlers looking for a highlight win in their final home dual.
“We have a great opportunity to go out there and put on a good show,” coach Kerry McCoy said. “If things go our way, it can be pretty fun.”
No. 9-ranked heavyweight Youssif Hemida became Maryland’s first All-American since 2014 and has been a staple in the lineup since his freshman year. Both 149-pounder Alfred Bannister and 157-pounder Ryan Diehl were 2018 NCAA qualifiers and have constantly featured for the Terps in their time in College Park.
[Read more: Maryland wrestling’s Youssif Hemida is back on track after ending a 4-match losing streak]
This senior class will be the first in Maryland history to have wrestled their entire careers in the Big Ten, and McCoy is appreciative of the legacy they leave behind.
“To be in [the Big Ten] the whole time, they really represented a shift,” McCoy said. “Even though they didn’t have as much success as they would’ve hoped for, they are a pioneering group.”
Bannister’s Senior Day matchup will see him face the No. 1-ranked wrestler in the country, Rutgers’ Anthony Ashnault.
[Read more: Maryland wrestling dominates George Mason, 26-12, for first dual win]
Ashnault has accumulated a perfect 22-0 record on the season, but the Terps senior isn’t fazed by his record or his accolades.
“Having the No. 1 guy in your conference is always great so you can get a look at him before Big Tens and Nationals,” Bannister said. “It’s good to have a chance to take him out.”
Joining Ashnault, No. 4-ranked 133-pounder Nick Suriano is a national championship caliber wrestler and a stalwart for the Scarlet Knights.
Suriano and Maryland’s 133-pounder Orion Anderson are both coming off losses to Michigan’s No. 1 Stevan Micic, and Anderson believes that loss has him well-prepared for Suriano.
“This whole year has been a learning experience for me,” Anderson said. “Wrestling someone like [Micic] is only going to make me better.”
After Rutgers, Maryland will travel to Lawrenceville, New Jersey, on Sunday to take on Rider in its final dual of the season.
Wrestling in the Eastern Wrestling League, the Broncs have not seen as difficult of a schedule as the Terps have, but after strong showings against teams such as Rutgers and No. 11 Iowa State, Rider has proven that it’s a threat.
“Rider’s been a successful program,” McCoy said. “We’ve wrestled [Rider] the past couple seasons, and they’ve been some really good matches. We’ve got to be ready for a battle.”
Despite 165-pounder Jesse Dellavecchia being their only ranked wrestler, the Broncs still feature a lineup that can quickly mount a lead.
Like his coach, Bannister knows that his team cannot discount Rider just because it belongs to a smaller conference. And with it being the senior class’ final dual meet, the Terps don’t plan to hold anything back.
“We’re not overlooking anybody,” Bannister said. “They’re not a Big Ten team so, if anything, we might go a little harder.”