Maryland wrestling’s best finish at the Big Ten championship signaled an upward trajectory, as the Terps succeeded against some of the Big Ten’s top wrestlers. Multiple Terps won with a common strategy, as they dominated from the top position and finished their takedown attempts.
“Since Clemsen and company got to College Park, we’ve spent days, like an entire day on the top position all offseason,” coach Alex Clemsen said. “Every week there will be one day devoted to top.”
Both top control and finishing takedowns were critical in redshirt junior Braxton Brown’s wins over the weekend. He kept Nebraska’s then-No. 15 Jacob Van Dee down for the entire second period, which allowed him to win the third with just an escape.
Brown was the aggressor against Penn State’s No. 5 Braeden Davis and Rutgers’ No. 10 Dylan Shawver. Brown found success with single leg attempts, taking down Davis once and Shawver twice behind attacks where he got to his opponents’ leg and powered his way through them.
[Maryland wrestling sets multiple program records at Big Ten championships]
Top control was a similar theme in Jaxon Smith’s victories against two top 10 opponents. Smith almost ended the match against Iowa’s No. 8 Gabe Arnold in the final period with a super duck move that was nearly a bout-winning takedown. The officials initially granted him three points but overturned the call after a replay review.
In tiebreakers — the same period where Smith lost to Arnold in the regular season — the redshirt junior’s top work came through. He kept Arnold down for 22 of the 30 seconds in the overtime period after starting on top, and escaped from bottom within the first five seconds to secure the win.
Nebraska’s No. 7 Silas Allred beat Smith last year at the tournament at 197 pounds, obstructing the heavier Smith’s offense in a 10-3 decision.
This year, Smith broke through Allred’s defenses. He used his underhooks and tripped Allred down to the mat for a takedown in the first, then successfully defended the former Big Ten Champion’s attempts, taking a 4-2 decision.
“I think [Allred] was a lot more assertive in his hand fight,” coach Alex Clemsen said. “Being offensive and using his hands and setting the pace and the tone and the positions, good things happen for him.”
[Jaxon Smith, Ethen Miller lead Maryland wrestling into the postseason]
Seth Nevills’ work from the top position has been one of his strengths this season. Nevills’ three comfortable wins during the weekend each featured top control.
Kal Miller and Ethen Miller both picked up critical points for riding time. Ethen Miller’s victory over Iowa’s No. 3 Jacori Teemer was the Terps highest-rated win of the weekend.
But the weekend’s shock was Branson John’s three upset wins over ranked opponents. The freshman earned riding points in all three matches and dominated offensively.
“I’d love to tell you that I’m surprised — I’m really not,” Clemsen said. “Behind closed doors, our staff, when we saw the brackets and we saw the draw, thought he was in probably about as good a place as he could be in.”
Maryland’s showing is a good sign for its chances at the NCAA championships. Executing offensively against high-ranked opponents late in a tournament is exactly what they’ll have to do next week to find success.
The Terps’ best finish under Clemsen at NCAAs was 36th overall with 8.5 team points . After setting multiple program records at the conference tournament, Maryland hopes to do the same at the NCAA tournament in Philadelphia.
“So it’s cool to see our kids, you know, reflect that work. I think we actually can even be a little better in that position,” Clemsen said. “I think it will show out more at the nationals against other leagues.”
