Maryland wrestling achieved three first-place finishes at the 2025 Journeymen Collegiate Classic held in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The team saw strong performances from Jaxon Smith (184 Black Pool), Mekhi Neal (157 Green Pool), and Branson John (197 Black Pool), each securing titles in their respective pools.
Branson John continued his winning streak by claiming his second straight tournament title. He recorded a 9-1 major decision and a 6-3 sudden-victory win during pool competition before defeating Zyan Hall 5-0 in the finals, maintaining an undefeated season record.
Mekhi Neal also went unbeaten, finishing with a 3-0 record to win the 157 Green Pool. Neal began with a technical fall victory, followed by an 11-5 decision and capped off his run with an 11-7 win over Navy’s Charlie Evans.
Jaxon Smith dominated the 184 Black Pool bracket, posting an 18-3 technical fall and an 8-0 major decision before overcoming Franklin & Marshall’s James Conway with a score of 7-4 in the final match.
Other notable results for Maryland included runner-up finishes by Dario Lemus (141 Black Pool), AJ Rodriguez (165 Blue Pool), Sepanta Ahanj-Elias (197 Blue Pool), and Joey Schneck (285 Green Pool). Additionally, Abram Cline (125 Red Pool) and Tyler Garvin (125 Blue Pool) both finished round-robin play undefeated at 3-0.
The Terps’ balanced performance featured multiple wrestlers placing in their pools across various weight classes. The team’s success at this event follows recent achievements earlier in the season.