Wrestling Hosts Maryland in Friday Night B1G Opener

Friday, January 9

Evanston, Ill.

7 p.m. CT

Northwestern

Maryland

Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics

Wrestling Hosts Maryland in Friday Night B1G Opener

1/8/2026 4:45:00 PM | Wrestling

EVANSTON, Ill. - Big Ten action begins at home on Friday for Northwestern wrestling (2-1, 0-0 B1G) as the 'Cats host the Maryland Terrapins (4-1, 0-0 B1G) at Welsh Ryan Arena. First whistle is set for 7 p.m. CT and action will be streamed on B1G+.

LAST TIME OUT
The 'Cats return to dual action after hosting the 61st Annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships on December 29-30 at Ryan Fieldhouse, where 17 Wildcats took to the mat and three finished on the podium.

Sean Spidle garnered the best finish by a Wildcat in the event, taking third place at 133 lbs. The graduate student collected six wins along the way, including an upset of then-No. 20 Dylan Shawver (Rutgers). Following his performance, he improved to No. 23 in both the InterMat and FloWrestling national rankings.

Also on the podium were No. 31 Eddie Enright (174 lbs) and No. 31 Billy Dekraker (141 lbs), who both finished in fifth place at their weight classes. Enright racked up six wins en route to his third tournament podium of the season, including three bonus-point victories, while Dekraker used a technical fall and three victories by decision to reach the podium in his debut Midlands appearance.

SCOUTING MARYLAND
Maryland enters the weekend 4-1 in dual action, with its only loss coming against a ranked Pittsburgh squad. Even including the loss, the Terrapins have outscored dual opponents 120-73 so far this season. After competing at the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn. last weekend, Friday's match will be Maryland's first dual since its December 13 meeting with the Panthers.

In the most recent rankings, InterMat ranked five Terrapins in the top 33 at their weight classes, including four in the top 15: No. 12 Braxton Brown (133 lbs), No. 33 Dario Lemus (141 lbs), No. 14 Carter Young (149 lbs), No. 5 Jaxon Smith (184 lbs) and No. 15 Branson John (197 lbs).

SERIES HISTORY
The 'Cats are 6-1 against Maryland since the Terrapins joined the Big Ten ahead of the 2014-15 season. Maryland's only victory over Northwestern during that span came in 2024, when they notched a 29-15 victory in College Park. The last time the two teams faced off in Evanston, during the 2021-22 season, the 'Cats came out on top, 29-7.

PROBABLES
Northwestern:
125: #28 Dedrick Navarro
133: #23 Sean Spidle OR Luis Bazan
141: #31 Billy Dekraker OR Giosue Hickman
149: Sam Cartella OR August Hibler
157: Gunnar Myers
165: Jacob Bostelman
174: #31 Eddie Enright
184: J.D. Perez
197: Alex Smith
HWT: Gabe Christenson OR Dirk Morley

Maryland:
125: Abram Cline or Presden Sanchez
133: #12 Braxton Brown
141: #33 Dario Lemus or Ryan Kennedy
149: Michael Pizzuto or #14 Carter Young
157: Mekhi Neal or Nathan Perry
165: Alex Uryniak or AJ Rodrigues
174: Dom Solis or Seth Digby
184: #5 Jaxon Smith or Sepanta Ahnj-Elias
197: #15 Branson John or Anthony Bradley
HWT: Oscar Williams or Jackson Schwab

* All individual rankings courtesy of InterMat (January 6)