Jan. 29, 2009

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy wrestling team (5-7) returns to the mat on Friday night in College Park, Md., where the Midshipmen will look to avenge last year's 21-18 loss against the Maryland Terrapins (6-7-1) which snapped a 10-match series winning streak by the Mids. Action is slated for 7:00 pm at the Comcast Center Pavilion and will be broadcast live via the internet at www.ACCSelect.com(.) Admission to the match is free.

Navy holds a commanding 48-8-3 advantage in the series, including wins in 21 of the last 23 meetings. The Terps proved to be too much for the Mids in 1997, when they earned a 24-13 victory in College Park. While last year's match was one of the most entertaining in recent series history. Though Maryland won six of the 10 matches, All-Americans Matt Stolpinski and Ed Prendergast both pinned their foes to give the Mids extra points. Though Navy trailed by just three points (18-15) with two matches remaining, Maryland held on to defeat Navy, 21-18, at Halsey Field House in Annapolis.

"Anytime there's an in-state competition in sports, that event becomes a little more important," said ninth-year Navy head coach Bruce Burnett. "We both have strong programs and this will surely be one of the biggest matches on our schedule this year. I anticipate it being an entertaining one for the fans to watch. This is a good opportunity for our team to get back on the winning side of things after certainly facing our share of adversity this season."

Indeed Navy's injury woes have been well-documented, but the Mids have carried on. Navy has dropped four in a row, including two matches decided by two points -- 19-17 loss to American and 20-18 loss to NC State last weekend. Ironically, Maryland managed to squeak past NC State, 21-18, prior to the Mids' match against the Wolfpack.

Both programs will send three ranked wrestlers onto the mat with the 133-pound battle perhaps the most anticipated of the evening. Junior Steven Bell will represent the Terps with an 18-3 record and a No. 8 ranking. Meanwhile, the Mids are hopeful to put 10th-ranked Joe Baker (Poway, Calif.) up against Bell. Baker has wrestled just four times this season because of injury, but is a returning All-American who is unbeaten this season.

Maryland redshirt junior Alex Krom is ranked 13th at 141 pounds and will be up against Navy rookie John Majka (Chicago, Ill.). While Krom owns a 14-4 record, including an 11-2 dual mark, the less experience Majka has battled his way to a 12-15 mark this season.

After taking last week off, sixth-ranked Bryce Saddoris (Spring Creek, Nev.) will be back on the mat for the Mids where he boasts an impressive 31-3 record at 149 pounds, including a 9-1 mark in dual competition. Saddoris' losses have been against No. 2 Bubba Jenkins of Penn State, No. 3 Darrion Caldwell of NC State and No. 12 Kyle Borshoff of American, who upset Saddoris in extra minutes. Saddoris is expected to meet either Steve Fehnel (7-9) or Dex Lederer (0-2).

Navy's Luke Rebertus (Elkton, Md.) is also hoping to make a return at 174 pounds after being sidelined since the Virginia Duals. Rebertus is ranked 20th in the country as a rookie and has produced 25-7 record, including a 4-3 mark in dual action. He will face either Bradley Nielson (1-1) or Patrick Klenkel (4-11).

The final ranked wrestler in the competition is Maryland junior Hudson Taylor who is on tap to meet the Mids' Philip Neese (Lexington, S.C.). Taylor, ranked No. 10 at 197 pounds, owns a 24-5 record, dropping just three of his 14 duals this season, while Neese has recorded an 18-17 overall mark, including a 4-8 record in dual competition.

Navy will be back in action on Saturday night when it plays host to East Stroudsburg in an Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association battle. Match time is set for 7:00 pm at Halsey Field House.