Wrestling Set to Open Season on the Southeast Open

COLLEGE PARK, MD – The Maryland wrestling workforce will open its 2025-26 season this Sunday, November 2, on the Southeast Open in Salem, Va.

Seventeen Terrapins will journey and compete within the open-style match, every seeking to seize a title of their respective bracket. Action is ready to start at 9 a.m. and can proceed all through the day.

Fans can watch and observe together with the competitors on FloWrestling.

Terrapins registered to compete:

125 lbs: Abram Cline, Tyler Garvin

133 lbs: Braxton Brown

141 lbs: Dario Lemus, Clayton Gabrielson

149 lbs: Jackson Young, Michael Pizzuto

157 lbs: Garrett Reece 

165 lbs: AJ Rodrigues, John Martin Best, Alex Uryniak

174 lbs: Seth Digby, Dominic Solis

197 lbs: Branson John, Sepanta Ahanj-Elias

HWT: Joey Schneck, Oscar Williams

2024–25 Season Recap

• In 2024–25, the Terps posted one in every of their most profitable seasons since becoming a member of the Big Ten. Maryland set program information for factors and particular person placers on the Big Ten Championships, recorded its highest workforce end, and achieved essentially the most regular-season twin wins in program historical past. Key highlights included a win over No. 10 Michigan — the primary over a top-10 opponent since Nov. 20, 2009.
• At the NCAA Championships, Maryland matched its highest workforce level whole and end since 2014. Jaxon Smith earned All-American honors with a sixth-place end at 184 kilos, marking this system’s first All-American since 2019. The Terps certified six wrestlers for the NCAA Championships, essentially the most since 2012, together with Braxton Brown, Branson John, and Jaxon Smith, whereas setting a brand new program file for Big Ten twin victories.

 

Jaxon Smith earned All-American honors with a sixth-place end at 184 kilos in 2025.

Returning Impact

• Maryland returns a core of wrestlers who have been NCAA qualifiers in 2025, together with Braxton Brown, Branson John, and Jaxon Smith. They are anticipated to supply management and continuity for the 2025–26 season.
• Braxton Brown returns as a three-time NCAA qualifier (2023–25) and one in every of Maryland’s constant performers. He completed the 2024–25 season with a 24–6 general file, advancing to the Round of 16 on the NCAA Championships because the No. 9 seed. In twin competitors, he posted an 18–1 file, together with 7–1 in Big Ten matches, with eight main selections, 4 technical falls, and two pins. At the Big Ten Championships, Brown positioned fifth, together with sudden-victory wins over Dylan Shawver and Jacob Van Dee. He additionally completed second on the 2024 Tiger Style Invite and secured victories over ranked opponents Anthony Noto (Lock Haven), Kurt Phipps (Bucknell), and Shawver (Rutgers). Following the season, Brown acquired each the John C. McHugh Coach’s Award and the Hudson Taylor Award.
• Branson John returns after a freshman season that included nationwide recognition and postseason expertise. He completed the season 14–19 and positioned sixth on the 2025 Big Ten Championships, defeating higher-seeded wrestlers together with Clayton Whiting (Minnesota), Jackson Turley (Rutgers), and Brody Baumann (Purdue). In twin matches, John recorded wins over Michigan’s Joseph Walker and Rutgers’ Turley, and a pin towards Lock Haven’s Avery Bassett. He started his collegiate profession with a win in his twin debut towards Kent State’s Hunter Andel and positioned fourth on the 2024 Tiger Style Invite. John was additionally named an NWCA Scholar All-American.
• Jaxon Smith returns as a three-time NCAA qualifier and three-time Big Ten placer. He earned All-American honors in 2025 with a sixth-place end at 184 kilos — the primary for Maryland since 2019 and the primary beneath head coach Alex Clemsen. Smith ended the 2024–25 season 24–10, tied for the workforce lead in wins, with 9 victories by choice, six by main choice, 5 pins, and 4 technical falls. At the NCAA Championships, he secured All-American standing with a 4–2 victory over D.J. Parker (Oklahoma) and defeated Silas Allred (Nebraska) 8–1 for a top-six end. Smith positioned fourth on the Big Ten Championships, together with wins over Gabe Arnold (Iowa) and Allred, and defeated ranked opponents Reece Heller (Pittsburgh), Jaden Bullock (Michigan), Edmond Ruth (Illinois), and Shane Cartangia-Walsh (Rutgers) in the course of the common season. He opened his junior marketing campaign 8–0, successful six matches by bonus factors, and claimed the George Mason Patriot Open title over two ranked opponents, together with No. 9 Chris Foca (Cornell). Smith additionally earned a bronze medal on the 2025 U23 Pan-American Championships and was runner-up on the U23 Nationals. He acquired a number of honors, together with Maryland Male Medal of Honor, Maryland Student-Athlete of the Year, Hudson Taylor Award, Maryland Most Outstanding Wrestler, and NWCA Scholar All-American.

 

Braxton Brown returns as a three-time NCAA qualifier (2023–25) and one in every of Maryland’s constant performers.

New Faces in College Park

• Maryland added seven freshmen and one switch for the 2025–26 season.
• Chase Horne, a redshirt junior switch from NC State, competed at each heavyweight (285 lbs) and 197 lbs over three seasons. In 2023–24, he wrestled solely at heavyweight, posting a 13–6 file, together with a number of first-period pins to begin the season. Horne competed in 4 tournaments and earned recognition off the mat, together with the ACC Dr. Pepper Go Teach Scholarship, All-ACC Academic Team, and ACC Academic Honor Roll.
• Garrett Reece joins Maryland after a highschool profession at Regis Jesuit High School (CO). A 2024 Colorado State Champion, Reece completed his senior season 47–1 and was Fargo Greco-Roman Runner-Up in 2024. He additionally was a two-time state finalist and 2023 state runner-up. Reece will compete at 157 kilos.
• Ryan Kennedy arrives from SPIRE Academy (OH), the place he ranked No. 16 nationally at his weight by FloWrestling and No. 235 general in MatScouts senior rankings. Kennedy was a 2025 U20 U.S. Open All-American (seventh), 2025 Escape the Rock Champion, NHSCA Senior Runner-Up, and positioned eighth on the 2024 Powerade Tournament.