If you look in the bleachers behind the Terps’ bench at home wrestling duals, you’ll find Dominic Solis cheering on his teammates. His role is a sharp contrast to prior years.
Solis was a staple on the mat for Maryland the past three seasons as its starting 174-pound wrestler. He represented the Terps at the Big Ten Championships each of these years, making the NCAA Championships in 2022.
This year, the captain has spent his senior year redshirting. Coach Alex Clemsen attributed the late redshirt decision to a variety of factors, including a weight class change, the pandemic and opening opportunities for 174-pound freshman Branson John.
The coaching staff’s decision was a surprise to Solis, but the redshirt senior says he’s enjoyed the experience.
“I get to be around the guys a little bit longer and be around this amazing coaching staff,” Solis said. “At this point, I’m very happy that I did it.”
[Maryland wrestling drops last conference dual to Purdue, 23-14]
As a redshirt, Solis is allowed to compete in five competition dates. He’s already used all of those dates in open tournaments.
The tournaments have been a different experience for Solis. Normally, Maryland’s starters wrestle in one or two open tournaments throughout the season. Solis has already competed in five, averaging about five matches per tournament.
Despite the tournaments being exhausting, Solis said it’s allowed him to connect with the younger redshirts. He previously didn’t get that time, as they wouldn’t normally be in the lineup together.
Instead of competing at his usual 174 pounds, Solis has competed at 184 pounds at the tournaments. He says the lack of a weight cut has helped him in many areas, but especially in the practice room.
“Some days you go into the practice room and you gotta make weight … you’re thinking about that the whole time,” Solis said. “And now, I don’t really think about it. I’m just wrestling, I’m getting better. Every day, it’s a lot less pressure.”
[Maryland wrestling’s freshmen starters seek consistency in final stages of season]
In the room, he works with redshirt junior Jaxon Smith, the current 184-pound starter. The two are in a small group of current Terps with appearances at the NCAA Championships.
Smith feels the training is mutually beneficial. He’s also practicing at a new weight after previously competing at 197 pounds.
“We were two weight classes apart from each other, but now we’re practically the same size,” Smith said. “Iron sharpens iron. We’re able to improve, each of us being in the same weight class.”
Solis has found success at the open tournaments. He’s won six of his last seven matches and holds a 15-9 record overall.
He’s also making an impact on Maryland’s duals. Despite not competing, his training with Smith and John prepares the duo.
“He’s my roommate, and we’re really close,” Solis said about John. “I feel like I’ve had a pretty good impact on him and giving him advice.”
Solis already has plans in place for when his Maryland career ends. He works part-time at a financial advising firm, and they want him to start full time but he’s informed them that he has more wrestling left. Clemsen agrees with him.
“From a competition standpoint, he’s had probably his most complete training year,” Clemsen said. “I look for him to pop right back in for us and be the best version of him that we’ve seen.”
