But Maryland expects the return of two former ACC Champions plus an influx of talented newcomers will propel them to another outstanding season in 2010-11.
Mike Letts, the 2007 and 2008 ACC Champ at 174 pounds, Jon Kohler, the 2008 Champ at 141 pounds, plus 2010 NCAA Qualifiers Josh Asper and Kyle John lead a talented group into Maryland’s first season under head coach Kerry McCoy without an All-American returning.
Program stalwarts Steven Bell, Alex Krom and Hudson Taylor combined to earn All-America status six times during their illustrious careers and replacing them promises to be a challenge. But McCoy is confident this group will leave their own mark on the Terrapin wrestling program.
“Our expectations never change,” said McCoy. “One of the reasons I came here is that I wanted to be a program that could challenge for a national championship. Winning the ACC is the goal every year and we want to be in the hunt at the NCAA Championships. We have a young team this year and there will be some new guys in the lineup that we have to see what they can do. But without a doubt, we have three or four guys that should get on the podium and help us be in the hunt for a top 20 finish.”
Letts, a fifth-year senior who redshirted in 2009 and had his 2010 season cut short due to injury, is healthy this season and looks ready to return to his championship form. His progression will be key to a team that has relied on its veterans heavily in the past.
“Mike has the potential to win a national championship,” said McCoy. “He has some monsters in front of him. He’ll wrestle some very highly ranked wrestlers early on between the Oklahoma Gold Classic, the Northeast Duals and the Penn State Open. He could potentially see eight to ten ranked guys in the first semester. Without a doubt he’s a top-five wrestler.”
Asper just missed out on All-America status as a freshman at the 2010 NCAA Championships and is ranked as high as fifth in the nation by some wrestling publications. The Parkton, Md., native set the Maryland freshman wins record with 34 last season and solidifies the middle of the lineup for the Terps.
With Kyle John, a 2010 ACC runner-up, at 157 pounds, Asper at 165 and Letts at 174, Maryland can compete with almost any team in the nation at the middle weights.
Corey Peltier, though perhaps under the radar, has had success in the past and looks for a breakout season at 184 pounds. A junior, Peltier won 21 matches last season, with a 3-1 mark in ACC matches.
“Corey has been right there the last few years,” said McCoy. “This year I think he’s looking to turn that corner. I’m really excited for what he’s going to do this year.”
A talented group of newcomers led by Spencer Myers, a first team ASICS All-American in high school, will be ready to contribute immediately.
Freshman Ben Dorsay is a highly-touted freshman and will compete with redshirt freshman Justin Cash, among others, for the starting position at 149 pounds in a battle McCoy terms the most competitive on the team.
The Terps will face plenty of tough competition early in the season, though McCoy designed it so there will be ample time to integrate the newcomers into the demands of college wrestling.
“Our schedule is set up where we have enough time to train and to recover between competitions. We have a high enough level of competition that our guys are going to see elite-level competition, but we’re not in a situation that we’ve been in the past where we’re just grinding. So I’m very optimistic about the year.”
Maryland will open the season with the Red and Black Wrestle-Offs on Saturday, Oct. 23, an intrasquad exhibition that determines the initial starters at each weight class. Although fans may not see some of the familiar faces they’ve grown accustomed to over the past few years, McCoy’s goals remain unchanged.
“We should never be out of the hunt for an ACC title and a top 20 finish at the NCAAs. When everything comes together we can get into the top five and challenge for a national championship. This year we want to get multiple All-Americans, win the conference tournament and be in the top 20 at the NCAA Championships.”
125
With the departure of James Knox, who graduated, junior Pat Strizki is the favorite to win the starting job. Junior Will Sharbaugh, sophomore Brian Marcoux and freshmen Ken Collado, Shane Gentry and Jenkins Monzey will all be in the hunt, however. Strizki won 11 matches last season and was 4-4 in dual competition.
133
Senior Lou Ruland and junior Joey Boone have separated themselves as the top two at 133 pounds. The winner of this job will have big shoes to fill, as Steven Bell won the last three ACC titles and was a two-time All-American at 133. Freshmen Frank Goodwin and Mason Goretsas will also challenge for time here.
141
Senior Jon Kohler returns to the weight where he won the 2008 ACC Championship after spending last season at 149 pounds. He looks to solidify a position that has been a strength for Maryland over the last three seasons – with Alex Krom’s 2009 and 2010 titles, the Terps have won this weight at the ACC Championships the past three seasons.
Kohler will be pushed by junior Matt Bogusz, sophomore Brad Molina, redshirt freshman Danny O’Malley and freshman Mark Hartenstine.
149
This could be the most open competition out of the 10 weights, with five challengers vying for the starting position. Dexter Lederer is the lone senior and wrestled in two ACC duals last season, but a talented group of freshmen looks ready to challenge. Justin Cash, Eric Beverly and Danny Orem are all redshirt freshmen who spent last season wrestling in open competition, and true freshman Ben Dorsay comes to Maryland with high accolades.
157
Kyle John returns as the starter at 157 a season after winning 29 matches and qualifying for the NCAA Championships. John was 17-6 in dual meets, including 4-0 in ACC regular season meets, and is ranked in the top 10 at 157 pounds.
165
Sophomore Josh Asper is the returning starter and will look to improve on a season in which he set the school record for wins by a freshman and narrowly missed out on All-America status. Asper was an impressive 23-5 in dual meets last season and 11 wins by major decision.
Redshirt freshman Jimmy Sheptock, who went 24-3 last season in open competition, will challenge Asper.
174
Two-time ACC Champ Mike Letts looks to return to form after an injury-shortened 2010 season. Letts won the ACC Championship as a true freshman and sophomore and has never been outside the top 15 in the rankings when healthy.
184
Corey Peltier is the returning starter. Senior Bradley Nielson, redshirt freshman Ty Snook and true freshman Rob Fitzgerald will also compete here.
197
The spot left vacant by Hudson Taylor will likely come down to redshirt freshmen Christian Boley and Dallas Brown. Both are very talented and gained experience wrestling in open competition last season. Senior Tommy Sitar may also compete here, but will likely start the season at heavyweight.
285
Redshirt sophomore Ryan Gray moves up to heavyweight from 197 this year and will compete with true freshman Spencer Myers for the starting job. The Pennsylvania state champ at 215 pounds as a high school senior, Myers went 44-0 in his final season at Selinsgrove High School. Senior Owen Duffy and possibly Sitar will also battle for the starting role.
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