"The guys really worked hard and tried to build on their leads and score points when they could - wrestling is fun when you are on offense and scoring points," head coach Pat Santoro said. "The kids are doing a good job and we'll try to use this momentum into the big ACC weekend next week."
With the win, the Terps improve to 3-7 on the year. VMI drops to 1-5-1 this season.
James Knox got the Terps started with an 11-3 major decision over Lam Ly in the 125 bout. Knox led midway through the third period, but aggressively pursued bonus points in the third. He started the period out with a reversal, and then quickly cut Ly. He then registered three more takedowns in the final period and with the bonus point from riding time earned the major decision.
In the 133 bout, Brandon Stillo scored a reversal and two nearfall points as time expired in the final period to rally past Brendan Byrne, 10-6. The Terps responded with Alex Krom taking the mat as he continued his dominance, picking up his second-straight technical fall with a 15-0 win over Jochen Granja at 141 pounds. Krom came out strong in the first period scoring a takedown and two, three-point nearfall counts for an 8-0 lead. He picked up two more takedowns, was awarded a penalty point for stalling on Granja and racked up over three minutes of riding time for the 15th point and the technical fall.
The Keydets countered with a decision at 149 by Sam Alvarenga over Andrew Schlaffer to make the dual 9-6. In the match, Alvarenga managed three takedowns on Schlaffer and allowed only one to take the 9-5 victory.
The Terps stretched their lead in the dual in the next three weights, starting at 157 pounds with another bonus-point victory as Adam James recorded the major decision against Tommy Cunningham. In what was an even first period, James converted an explosive five-point move when he threw Cunningham to his back near the end of the period. He scored an escape and a takedown in the second period and converted a takedown in the third to secure the major decision for Maryland.
Adam DeCosmo also used a big five-point move in his 12-4 major decision over Chris Hardy. With 12 seconds left in the first period, DeCosmo hit a cradle that he nearly converted for a fall but time expired. DeCosmo stayed on the offensive in the second, recording a reversal and a takedown to take a commanding 9-1 lead. He then tallied a takedown in the final period, but allowed a reversal as time expired. However, with a 1:07 riding time, DeCosmo earned the final point necessary for the four-point major decision.
Dominic Buckman came out victorious in one of the closest bouts of the day, defeating Dustin McCabe 4-2 at 174 pounds. Buckman's takedown in the first minute of the match stood up as the only offensive points and proved to be the difference in the victory.
The Keydets won a close match of their own at 184 pounds as Corry Murray edged Luke Stauffer, 6-4. Holding a narrow 4-3 lead in the closing seconds of the third period, Murray countered a shot by Stauffer to get the match-deciding takedown to close the gap in the dual to 20-9 in favor of Maryland.
Afari stifled any Keydet rally, though, by pinning Kyle Elgert at the 3:22 mark. Afari had already built an 11-3 lead in the first period, and when Elgert started the second on the bottom, Afari was able to tilt him for the fall.
In the final bout of the day, Scott Buhman won by injury default over Maryland heavyweight Bryan Reiss. Buhman led the match 8-1 in the third before a scramble on the edge of the match resulted in an injury to Reiss, making the final score 26-15.
The Terps will be back in action next weekend with three ACC duals at Comcast Pavilion. Maryland will first face Virginia Tech on Friday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m., before hosting a double-dual against North Carolina and Duke on Saturday, Jan. 28, beginning at 1 p.m.
Wt. Name, Result MD VMI
125: James Knox (MD) maj. dec. Lam Ly (VMI), 11-3 4 0
133: Brandon Stillo (VMI) dec. Brendan Byrne (MD), 10-6 4 3
141: Alex Krom (MD) tech. fall Jochen Granja (VMI), 15-0 (7:00) 9 3
149: Sam Alvarenga (VMI) dec. Andrew Schlaffer (MD), 9-5 9 6
157: Adam James (MD) maj. dec. Tommy Cunningham (VMI), 13-2 13 6
165: Adam DeCosmo (MD) maj. dec. Chris Hardy (VMI), 12-4 17 6
174: Dominic Buckman (MD) dec. Dustin McCabe (VMI), 4-2 20 6
184: Corry Murray (VMI) dec. Luke Stauffer (MD), 6-4 20 9
197: Jerry Afari (MD) pinned Kyle Elgert (VMI), 3:22 26 9
HWT: Scott Buhman (VMI) INJ DEF Bryan Reiss (MD), 6:03 26 15
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