The highly-anticipated dual featuring the intrastate nationally ranked opponents started at 157 with freshman Brian Letters taking a 6-2 decision. Letters recorded a pair of takedowns in the first period but Spencer Manley also got loose of his grasp twice for a 4-2 Maryland lead. Manley chose down in the second and recorded the escape 20 seconds in to make it 4-3, but Letters earned an escape, a takedown, and got the bonus point for riding time in the third for the 6-2 win.
Senior Ryan Kennett added to the lead with another Terp decision making it 6-0. Kennett had not wrestled in a dual since November 11, but he battled Matt DeMichiel to a 3-3 tie in the first period. DeMichiel took a 4-3 lead heading into the third with an escape in the second. However, Kennett scored all of the points in the final frame, including a three-point near fall with 10 seconds left to take the 10-4 win.
The biggest match of the night came at 174 pounds with sophomore Mike Letts, ranked No. 7 in the country, facing No. 9 Matt Stolpinski. Letts started out strong, overpowering Stolpinski with four takedowns in the first period and a half to build an 8-5 lead. Stolpinski scored a takedown as time ran out in the second to make it 8-7. Letts started down in the third and escaped quickly to get the lead to two points. The two tussled for positioning and Stolpinksi eventually earned the tying takedown. He then parlayed that into a pin as he caught Letts off guard to tie the dual at 6-6.
Junior Josh Haines, ranked No. 18 at 184 pounds, got things back on track for Maryland with a 5-2 decision. He picked up a takedown in the first and a reversal in the second then tacked on the riding time for the win.
Taylor, ranked No. 8 at 197 pounds, continued his dominance with a quick pin of Tyler Moyer in 59 seconds to give the Terps a 15-6 lead. Twelve of his 19 wins this year have come by fall. No. 3 Ed Prendergast responded emphatically in the next match at heavyweight, matching Taylor's pin with his own in 14 seconds to make it 15-12.
Maryland and Navy traded decisions at 125 and 133 with sophomore Brendan Byrne taking the win at 125 pounds. He secured the victory with a pair of takedowns, an escape, and the riding time bonus for a 6-2 win. The only points he allowed were a pair of escapes. The Terps held an 18-15 lead with two matches to go.
Senior Charlie Pinto came back from his injury to wrestle for the first time since November 17 at 141 pounds and picked up the clinching victory. After a scoreless first, Glenn Shober got on the board first by choosing down in the second and getting the escape. Pinto responded with the only takedown of the period, though, to take a 2-1 lead into the final period. Two more takedowns in the third secured the win for Pinto, 8-2, making the team score 21-15. Navy would win at 149, but had to get the fall to force a tie. Bryce Saddoris could only come away with a 7-3 decision.
The Terps (8-3) are back in action on Sunday, January 13 when they travel to Chapel Hill for their ACC opener against North Carolina. That match is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ACC Select.
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