1/15/2002 - Wrestling
Midshipmen Face Maryland in Wrestling Wednesday

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ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy wrestling team will play host to the Maryland Terrapins Wednesday evening at 7 p.m., in Halsey Field House.

"We are looking forward to the opportunity to wrestle in Halsey against Maryland Wednesday night," Navy head coach Bruce Burnett said. "We are coming off a big weekend at Rutgers, and I am looking to see if our guys continue to improve. We have guys stepping up and competing well right now. Maryland has a group of good wrestlers, and I think it will be an exciting match."

Navy (5-4) is coming off a 19-16 victory over Rutgers Saturday in Piscataway, N.J. Junior Mike Simon (North Canton, Ohio) scored a convincing 20-7 decision over Andrew Tilles in the 133-pound weight class to give the Mids the win and snap a three-match losing streak.

Team captain Mark Conley (Sr./Exton, Pa.) continues to lead the Mids this season, posting a 24-2 record. Ranked third nationally in the 141-pound weight class, Conley has given up just one point in his last four matches. That point came against Rutgers' Greg Austin when Conley stepped up and wrestled in the 149-pound weight class for the first time this season. He has 106-career victories and is five wins short of moving into a tie for fourth place with Scott Schleicher. He is second all-time in matches wrestled with 138 and needs 20 more to tie Greg Gingeleskie's mark of 158.

Heavyweight Steve Kovach (Jr./Parkesburg, Pa.) has also wrestled well lately, winning three of his last four matches. Kovach won his 20th match of the season Saturday, defeating Rutgers' Frank Sabatino in overtime, 5-3.

Maryland (3-0) is coming off three victories Saturday at the Warrior Duals in East Stroudsburg, Pa., defeating VMI (22-13), Binghamton (25-12) and James Madison (33-7).

Senior Brandon York is one of the Terrapins top grapplers this season, compiling a 25-4 record in the 141-pound weight class. York has won 13-straight matches, while three of his four losses during the season were by one point.

Junior Jake Stork has posted a 21-4 mark and has won five of his last six matches. Stork won the 184-pound weight class at the West Virginia Open and Penn State Open to start the season.

Navy defeated Maryland in College Park, Md., last year, 27-13. The Mids lead the overall series 42-7-3.