Nov. 15, 2008

Courtesy of Maryland Athletics

EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. - No. 2 Hudson Taylor and Mike Letts both took home individual championships Saturday at the East Stroudsburg Open at East Stroudsburg University while Jon Kohler took third place at 141 pounds and Patrick Gilmore finished fourth in the heavyweight division.

No team scores were kept, but overall it was a good day for the Maryland wrestling team.

"It was another good showing for our guys," Maryland head coach Kerry McCoy said. "We got a bunch of matches under our belt, which is going to help us the rest of the season. I'm really excited that Hudson got another win against a ranked opponent and Letts continued his winning ways. We just need to keep building from here on out."

Taylor was dominant the entire day at 197 pounds, winning his first four matches by fall before claiming an 11-0 major decision in the title match.

Taylor began the day with a pin in 1:25 against Lehigh's James Mutch. Taylor recorded three straight pins after that, including one in 48 seconds against Kutztown's Victor Montanez. Taylor shut out No. 12 Jon Oplinger of Drexel, 11-0, to claim the championship.

Letts won his third open championship in as many weeks, going 4-0 to stay unbeaten on the season at 12-0.

Letts recorded a fall in his first match against James Ray of Stevens, then got to the championship match with consecutive technical falls. Letts easily defeated Lehigh's Robert Hamlin, 18-6, to finish off the day.

Kohler went 5-1 to place third, winning two matches after an earlier defeat to place for the Terps. Gilmore went 4-2 on the day to place fourth, with all six matches being decided by decision.

Other Maryland competitors included: Josh Asper, Danny Bichner, Mike Hromada, Patrick Klenkel, Dex Lederer, Matt MacLean, Brian Marcoux, Shawn Mazzarone, Will Sharbaugh and Tommy Sitar.

Only Sharbaugh, Lederer, MacLean, Klenkel, Taylor and Gilmore officially represented Maryland in the competition. The rest of the competitors were unattached.

The Terps are at the Body Bar Invitational in Ithaca, N.Y. next Saturday.