COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Two year ago when the Navy wrestling team faced Maryland in College Park, junior Joe Locksmith was the hero of the match as his win by fall in the final bout of the night led the Mids to a 22-18 come-from-behind win over the Terps.  On Sunday afternoon it was a collective effort by the Mids down the stretch, as they won four of the final five matches to overcome a 12-point deficit to defeat Maryland, 20-18, at the XFINITY Center.

With the win Navy improved to 2-2 in dual action this season, while Maryland fell to 5-8.

The Mids opened the match with a strong performance by freshman 125-pound Cam Timok (Glen Allen, Va.), who made his collegiate debut.  Timok took the lead just seven seconds into the match with a takedown and never looked back as he gave Navy an early 3-0 lead with an 8-4 victory over Maryland junior Josh Polacek.

“Cam did a nice job of getting the team off to a good start by scoring the first takedown and establishing momentum in his match,” said first-year Navy head coach Joel Sharratt.

Navy was unable to keep the momentum, however, as Maryland scored wins in the next four matches, winning three by major decision, to build a 15-3 advantage halfway through the competition.

Sharratt need not look any farther than to senior team captain Peyton Walsh (Glen Allen, Va.) for a boost in the lineup.  Walsh, who has not lost a dual match since his sophomore year, answered the call to get a “w” on the scoreboard for the Mids.  Ranked 13th in the nation at 165 pounds, Walsh dominated redshirt sophomore Tyler Manion, putting together four takedowns and adding a point with more than three minutes of riding time for a 10-2 major decision.

“Peyton started the run for us and his ability to stay focused and compete with inspiration was part of changing the course of the final outcome,” added Sharratt.

Next up on the mat was Navy’s 174-pound Jadaen Bernstein (Glen Gardner, N.J.) who has enjoyed a successful rookie season, but was coming off a disappointing loss to Lehigh’s Santiago Martinez on Saturday.  Maryland junior Josh Snook drew the first points of the match with a takedown 40 seconds in, but Bernstein immediately escaped his grasp.  Bernstein took his first lead of the match with just over a minute to go in the opening period with a takedown of his own.  

A second stall warning on Snook 20 seconds into the second stanza extended Bernstein’s lead, but Snook finally got a leg free and wiggled loose to trim the lead to one with a minute to go in the period.  Still on the hunt, Bernstein bulldozed Snook and got him to the mat where he would pin Snook with 14 seconds remaining in the period.

“There are a lot of wrestlers who don’t have the opportunity to correct a mistake just 24 hours later and so I came into the match wanting to wrestle well and show that last night’s match was a bit of a fluke,” said Bernstein.  “I gave up an early takedown in today’s match, but the coaches are always reminding us that it’s a seven-minute match and I had plenty of time.  I eventually saw an opportunity and took advantage of it.  Getting the pin was a bonus, but the win just helped carry on the momentum that Peyton started with his win.”

“I was proud of Jadaen for rebounding from a tough loss,” said Sharratt.  “His pin ignited both the team and the crowd and help build momentum for us.”

The pin by Bernstein seemed to breathe new life into the Mids as they now trailed by just two, 15-13, with three matches remaining.

Junior 184-pound Michael Woulfe (Oak Park, Ill.) used the momentum and made a statement of his own.  The first-year starter built six minutes of riding time in the seven-minute match against Maryland senior Tony Gardner en route to an 8-0 major decision, giving the Mids their first lead since the first match of the day.

“Woulfe has a wide open style of competition and one of his biggest strengths is his awareness of the need for bonus points and he did an excellent job of doing that in today’s match.”

The most exciting match of the afternoon was the 197-pound bout between Navy senior Paul Rands (Cary, Ill.) and Maryland senior Rob Fitzgerald.  With just 16 seconds left in the opening period, Rands scored a takedown but Fitzgerald was awarded an escape as time expired.  Rands chose the down position to begin the second and had to scramble out of what could have been a pin, as Fitzgerald took a 3-2 advantage with a two-point near fall.  Fitzgerald added to his lead with an escape to start the final period, but Rands took him to the ground just 17 seconds later to knot the match up at 4-4.  Despite Rands’ best effort, he was unable to ride out Fitzgerald and fell behind with his foe’s escape with 45 seconds remaining.  Rands was able to get a final shot in, but it was a true battle of not just strength but will that allowed Rands to turn and get around Fitzgerald for the takedown with just one tick left on the clock for the 6-5 win.

“I am so proud of the team,” said an emotional Rands after the match.  “We’ve been banged up this season, but one thing you can’t take away from us is heart and fight.  It was special to see freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors showing their determination in winning today’s match.  We’ve been trying to turn this season around as a team and personally I have, too.

“Going into the third period, I looked to the bench and saw my teammates and coaches pointing here, to my heart.  They said it comes from within here.  I knew then I needed to make something happen.  When I heard the words 30 seconds, I knew I had 30 seconds left to win the battle of the heart.”

“Paul Rands and the 197-pound bout in general showed why wrestling is the oldest and greatest sport, in my opinion,” said Sharratt. “The battle of will was evident as both athletes dug deep in their heart to score the final points and Paul’s deep penetration secured his opponent and brought down the house with an emotional come-from-behind victory!”

Leading 20-15, as long as Navy did not give up a pin or a tech fall it would win the match.  But senior heavyweight Colynn Cook (Murrysville, Pa.) was unable to wrestle after being tossed off the mat in Saturday night’s match and suffering an injury.  Instead senior Brendan Kahle (Abingdon, Md.) would get the call in what would be his first collegiate dual appearance.  Kahle’s opponent?  No easy task in 11th-ranked Spencer Myers.  While Myers would go on to win the match, 5-0, Kahle did a phenomenal job of fending off several opportunities Myers had to get the Navy senior on his back.

With the win, Navy pushed its series lead to 52-11-3, including a 21-6-2 advantage in matches wrestled in College Park.

“At the end of the day it was a great team effort and provides us with solid momentum going into another week of EIWA dual competition.”

The Mids will be back in action next Friday when they play host to EIWA foe American at 7:00 pm at Alumni Hall.

Navy 20, Maryland 18
125 - Cam Timok (N) dec Josh Polacek (M)    8-4
133 - #18 Geoffrey Alexander (M) major Zack Davis (N)    12-2
141 - Frank Goodwin (M) major Taylor French (N)    15-2
149 - Shyheim Brown (M) dec Corey Wilding (N)    7-1
157 - Lou Mascola (M) major Jonathan Clemente (N)    12-3
165 - Peyton Walsh (N) major Tyler Manion (M)    10-2
174 - Jadaen Bernstein (N) fall Josh Snook (M)    4:46
184 - Michael Woulfe (N) major Tony Gardner (M)    8-0
197 - Paul Rands (N) dec Rob Fitzgerald (M)    6-5
285 - #11 Spencer Myers (M) dec Brendan Kahle (N)    5-0


### Go Navy ###