Numerous Maryland wrestlers impressed in the team’s opening match of the season at the Southeast Open. But it wasn’t a reliable veteran who shined the most on Sunday. Instead, a young Terp commanded attention.
Sophomore Branson John dominated through the 197-pound open bracket, going undefeated and winning three of his four bouts by major decision. John placed first in his division and was one of seven Terps who finished inside the top five of their weight class.
Branson John cruises to championship
John moved up two weight classes to start the season. He spent all of last year at the 174-pound class and started Maryland’s Red vs. Black scrimmage at 197 pounds.
The sophomore flashed in the scrimmage with his aggressive style, winning 16-9. But by the third period, John was noticeably tired. His shoulders sagged, and he put his hands on his hips during time stoppages.
John acknowledged afterward that his conditioning needed to improve, and it did on Sunday. John continued his aggressive style, claiming at least three takedowns in every bout.
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“You don’t score on the shots you don’t take. So just keep creating offense,” John said on Oct. 23. “The more shots you take, the more you set yourself up to win.”
John’s early aggression allowed him to build up big leads and use the third period to conserve stamina. By his final match, the difference in energy was obvious.
While West Virginia redshirt freshman Rune Lawrence had his hands on his hips and took heavy breaths, John continued to stay aggressive. He notched three takedowns in the first two periods and finished the bout with a 10-point margin of victory.
Braxton Brown places second
Jaxon Smith, the Terps’ 184-pounder, did not compete in Sunday’s tournament due to his participation in the NWCA All-Star Classic on Saturday Night in New Jersey. That left No. 8 Brown as the most experienced wrestler, and it showed in his first two bouts.
Brown played cautiously but strategically. The redshirt senior used the first two periods as a feeling-out process before pulling ahead in the third. In both bouts, Brown held a lead no larger than a point before scoring in the game’s final minute to advance to the next round.
His next two rounds were the complete opposite. While Brown jumped out to a big lead in the semifinals, No. 30 Dillon Campbell did the same in the finals.
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The Virginia Tech redshirt freshman claimed three takedowns within the first two periods, forcing Brown to play more aggressively in the final period.
Despite the loss, Brown still placed second in the open bracket.
Maryland’s 125-pound class turns in strong outing
In the preseason and after Maryland’s Red vs. Black scrimmage, coach Alex Clemsen challenged the entire 125-pound class.
He stated that no one in the class secured a starting role last season and was visibly frustrated by its performance in Maryland’s intersquad scrimmage.
“All three of them, they’ve been on notice for a while,” Clemsen said after the scrimmage. “They’re going to stay on notice till somebody separates and wrestles to the level that should be the standard of our program.”
The group entered the Southeast open short-handed, as an injury to Presden Sanchez’s elbow in the Red vs. Black scrimmage left the Terps with just two wrestlers in the weight class.
But sophomores Abram Cline and Tyler Garvin performed well. The two combined to win seven of their nine bouts, and both placed within the top five of the 125-pound freshman/sophomore bracket.
The two played prudently, preventing their opponents from gaining leverage for takedowns and surrendering four points or fewer in all but one bout. Cline had an opportunity to claim the championship, but fell 3-0 to Campbell’s Colby Crouch. The redshirt freshman produced both of Maryland’s losses at the 125-pound group.
Regardless, the two top-five finishes are a promising sign for a group that struggled last season.
