Bears Gear Up for Friday Night Clash Against Maryland

Bears Gear Up for Friday Night Clash Against Maryland

11/20/2025 9:00:00 AM

BALTIMORE, Md. (Nov. 19, 2025) -- Morgan State is set to host the Maryland Terrapins for a dual meet on Friday, Nov. 21, inside historic Hurt Gymnasium. Action begins at 6 p.m.

Since Morgan State relaunched its program in 2023–24, the teams have met twice, with Maryland winning both contests decisively — 35–6 in 2023 and 43–3 in 2024.

Fans can follow all the action live on FloWrestling.

  Morgan State    Weight     Maryland
  Jimmie Jones  125   Abram Cline / Tyler Garvin 
  Javaan Yarbrough  133   No. 13 Braxton Brown
  Rohan Bucknor  141   No. 30 Dario Lemus / Clayton Gabrielson 
  Eugene Harvey   149   Michael Pizzuto / Jackson Young
  Yannis Charles  157   Mekhi Neal
  Joshua Greenwood / Antoine Glasgow   165   Alex Uryniak / AJ Rodrigues
  Cortilius Vann  174   Dom Solis
  Bryce Phillips  184   No. 5 Jaxon Smith
  Eric Washington   197   No. 17 Branson John / Anthony Bradley
  Eli Turpin   HWT   Oscar Williams / Joey Schneck
*Intermat Rankings

SCOUTING MARYLAND
• Maryland (3-0) went 2-0 at the Throwdown on the Yorktown, defeating Gardner-Webb 27-13 and The Citadel 24-9. Key contributors included Dominic Solis (174 lbs) and Joey Schneck (285 lbs), who earned major decisions, and Dario Lemus (141 lbs) and Branson John (197 lbs), who recorded technical falls. Jaxon Smith (184 lbs) added a quick pin, while Michael Pizzuto (149 lbs) sealed a close decision in sudden victory. Against The Citadel, Braxton Brown (133 lbs) and Dario Lemus (141 lbs) set the tone with hard-fought decisions, while Jackson Young (149 lbs) defeated Thomas Termini 4-1. The upper weights were dominated by Maryland, with Dominic Solis (174 lbs), Jaxon Smith (184 lbs), and Branson John (197 lbs) all posting major decisions. Oscar Williams (285 lbs) closed the day with a 5-2 decision over Christian Bell.

• The Terps are now only one of 24 teams still undefeated after week three of competition. 

• Redshirt seniors Jaxon Smith (184 lbs) and Braxton Brown (133 lbs) have been named to the 2025–26 Big Ten Wrestlers to Watch List. Big Ten placer, earned All-American honors in 2025 with a sixth-place finish at 184 pounds, Maryland's first All-American under head coach Alex Clemsen. Brown, a three-time NCAA qualifier at 133 pounds, went 24–6 last season and advanced to the Round of 16 at the NCAA Championships. He posted an 18–1 dual record, placed fifth at the Big Ten Championships, and earned both the John C. McHugh Coach's Award and Hudson Taylor Award.

•  Alex Clemsen was named the seventh head coach of the Maryland wrestling program on April 23, 2019, and is entering his seventh season as head coach entering the 2025-26 campaign. Under Clemsen, the Maryland wrestling program has reached its highest levels in the past decade. In 2024–25, the Terps delivered their best season in the nation's most competitive conference. Maryland recorded its highest point total and most placers ever at the Big Ten Championships, along with its best team finish. At the NCAA Championships, the Terps posted their highest point total and best finish since

NOTABLES
• Morgan State (0-3) went 0-2 during the Bears' Tri-Meet on Sunday afternoon, falling to Duke (28-10) and Drexel (36-9). In the opening dual against Duke, the Bears battled throughout but ultimately came up short. Javaan Yarbrough (133 lbs) and Eugene Harvey (149 lbs) each secured decision victories, while Yannis Charles (157 lbs) delivered one of the day's most thrilling moments — an overtime win against Duke's Mikey Boulanger. The Blue Devils pulled away late, winning the final five bouts to seal the dual. Morgan State looked to carry that energy into its matchup with Drexel, and Yarbrough set the tone once again. Facing No. 24–ranked Kyle Waterman (InterMat), he raced out to a 5–3 lead in the first period and extended it to 10–4 in the second. Yarbrough closed it out in the final period, fighting for an impressive 12–2 major decision.

• Leading the return of NCAA Division I, Varsity-level men's wrestling to Maryland's largest Historically Black College or University (HBCU), Morgan State University announced the hiring of Kenny Monday as the Athletics Department's new men's wrestling coach, effective Aug. 24, 2022. Monday, the first Black wrestler in history to win an Olympic gold medal, is a National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee, three-time Olympian, and former NCAA All-American standout, who brings a championship-level coaching pedigree and an expansive yet impressive resume to a Bears' wrestling program looking to restart after a 25-year hiatus. Monday joined Morgan after serving as the director of wrestling and head wrestling coach at Spire Academy since 2021.

• Morgan State was wrestling in its first competition in 25 years after the program was reinstated, making it the only HBCU with a Division I wrestling program.
 
• In October 2021, the University announced its plans to revive the men's wrestling program at Morgan State with the support of a $2.7-million gift from HBCU Wrestling (HBCUW), a new initiative reestablishing wrestling programs on HBCU campuses. The gift, which is among the largest received from a private donor to the University, provides funding for the program and supports up to nine full scholarships annually.
 
• The Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) announced a realignment of its dual meet divisions to create balance across the conference. As part of the update, Morgan State will now compete in the newly formed Liberty Division, alongside American, Army, Bucknell, Lehigh, and Navy. The conference will now recognize EIWA Dual Meet Champions in both the Liberty Division and the Independence Division, which includes Binghamton, Drexel, F&M, Hofstra, LIU, and Sacred Heart.
 
• Sophomore newcomer Eugene Harney, who claimed 2nd place at the Navy Classic, emerged as the standout performer for the Bears, clinching the team's sole victory of the night against Ohio's Carson Weber in a nail-biting 1-0 contest during the 149-pound bout at the Ohio Showcase. Fellow sophomore Javaan Yarbrough finished sixth at 133 pounds. Both made their first appearances at the Navy Classic, highlighting the Bears' promising start to the season.

• Morgan State head coach Kenny Monday has added five new student-athletes to the Bears' 2025-26 roster, bolstering the program's depth and competitiveness. The incoming class features four freshmen and one transfer, highlighted by Campbell transfer Eugene Harney. The freshman additions include Antoine Glasgow (Lilburn, Ga.), Marwan Mohammed Nazeer (Spånga, Stockholm), Rohan Bucknor (White Plains, Md.), and Bence Veress (Budapest, Hungary). "We are fired up about the new young men we added to our roster," said Monday. "Each one brings a unique skill set that adds depth and excitement to our team," signaling a promising outlook for the reinforced squad.


FOLLOW MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS IN CYBERSPACE 
There are many ways to keep up with MSU athletics online and on the go:
• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official website of Bears athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios, and more. 
• Follow us on social media:
 Facebook: /MorganStateBears
 Twitter: @MorganStBears
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors

 
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