The Maryland Terrapins wrestling team is set to begin its 2026 Big Ten schedule with two away matches. The first match will take place against the Northwestern Wildcats on January 9 at Welsh-Ryan Arena, starting at 7 p.m. CT and available for streaming on B1G+. This encounter marks the first meeting between Maryland and Northwestern since the 2023–24 season, when Maryland achieved its first-ever victory over the Wildcats, winning 29–15 in College Park.
Following this match, Maryland will travel to face No. 18 Wisconsin Badgers on January 11 at UW Field House, with the event scheduled for noon and broadcast on BTN. Last season, Maryland defeated Wisconsin for the first time since 2010, securing a 24–13 win in College Park. That victory set a program record for most wins in a single Big Ten season since joining the conference and marked their best start to Big Ten competition. Wrestlers Braxton Brown, Dario Lemus, and Jaxon Smith all contributed wins during that matchup.
Maryland enters these contests with a current record of 4–1, having secured victories over Gardner-Webb, The Citadel, Morgan State, and American. The team has also performed well in open tournaments such as the Southern Scuffle. At this event, Braxton Brown reached the finals at 133 pounds before narrowly losing to Dom Serrano of Northern Colorado. Branson John placed third at 197 pounds after notable wins over Oklahoma State’s Austin Johnson and Brown University’s Andrew Reall.
Carter Young made his debut for Maryland as a mid-year transfer from Oklahoma State and quickly made an impact by advancing to the semifinals at the Southern Scuffle with several bonus-point wins and an upset over Penn’s Cross Wasilewski.
According to the release: “The Terps added a dynamic competitor in Carter Young as a mid-year transfer from Oklahoma State, the first mid-year addition in the Clemsen era.”
Young previously competed for Oklahoma State where he was a regular starter and qualified for NCAA Championships by placing fifth at the Big 12 Championships.
Reflecting on last season’s achievements: “The Terps are coming off one of their most successful seasons since joining the Big Ten. Maryland set program records for points and individual placers at the Big Ten Championships, recorded its highest team finish, and secured the most regular-season dual wins in program history. A signature moment came with a victory over No. 10 Michigan — the program’s first win over a top-10 opponent since Nov. 20, 2009.”
At last year’s NCAA Championships, Jaxon Smith earned All-American honors with a sixth-place finish at 184 pounds—the program’s first All-American since 2019—and six wrestlers qualified for nationals.
Head Coach Alex Clemsen returns for his seventh season leading Maryland’s wrestling program alongside associate head coach Nick Brascetta. Assistant coach Ethan Laird is back for his third year while Cole Matthews has been promoted to assistant coach.
“Jaxon Smith earned All-American honors with a sixth-place finish at 184 pounds last season.”