After a decade in the Big Ten, Maryland wrestling is finally looking to establish itself as a competitor in the conference.
The Terps struggled mightily in their first eight seasons in the Big Ten — they won just one conference dual meet during that time, including six-straight campaigns without such a victory.
The last two seasons saw some improvement. Maryland won its second ever Big Ten dual in 2023 and picked up two more wins last year, while sending five wrestlers to the NCAA Championships in both seasons.
While the Terps return production this year, their weight classes won’t be the same. Jaxon Smith, Kal Miller, Ethen Miller and Chase Mielnik are all competing at new weights this season.
Junior Kal Miller and redshirt junior Ethen Miller are moving up to the 149 and 157-pound weight classes, respectively. Mielnik, a redshirt senior, is going to 197, while Smith, a redshirt junior, is dropping to 184.
[Maryland wrestling has grown past its status as the Big Ten’s doormat]
The goal for each wrestler is more success, especially in March at the Big Ten and NCAA Championships.
“The last couple years … [Smith] hasn’t quite kept on the size that I think some of the best guys do,” coach Alex Clemsen said about Smith’s weight change. “He’ll have an opportunity to be one of the biggest [184] pounders in the country.”
The Miller brothers and Smith, along with graduate student Seth Nevills and redshirt junior Braxton Brown, all boast top-33 rankings at their individual weight classes on Intermat. Smith’s mark of No. 10 is the best of any Terp.
Those five were responsible for the majority of Maryland’s points in conference duals last season. But an improved record in Big Ten meets this year requires contributions from the entirety of the Terps’ lineup.
The 125-pound class was a major problem for Maryland last season. Its only points from that weight in conference play came from a forfeit win — every other bout resulted in bonus points for opposing wrestlers.
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Clemsen signed three talented freshmen at that weight in Presden Sanchez, Abram Cline and Tyler Garvin in the offseason, but doesn’t have a set plan for that class.
“We’ll probably be strategic with all those guys,” Clemsen said. “Give them opportunities to compete, put them all in a room against each other, put them all in a big dual meet and see how they respond and react. The guy that we think is the best ready to wrestle at the end of the year and give our program a bump will be the guy that gets the nod. ”
Two months of non-conference play will let Clemsen see the unit ahead of Maryland’s Big Ten slate. Then, it faces a gauntlet — five of its eight conference opponents are ranked inside Intermat’s top-20 dual rankings. Penn State and Iowa hold the top two spots, both February matchups for the Terps.
Smith has been one of Maryland’s best wrestlers in conference bouts, placing in the Big Ten Championships in each of the past two seasons. Looking to lead the Terps to further conference success, he has high hopes for the upcoming campaign.
“I think our team is coming together really well,” Smith said. “[We’ve made] some changes in our lineup, I think it’s going to help our team … I think we’re going to set high goals, high expectations and I think we can meet them.”
