Navy heavyweight wrestler Ed Prendergast entered the season with expectations of becoming an All-American after qualifying for the NCAA Tournament last season.
But the senior didn?t expect his practice partner, junior Scott Steele, to be one of his biggest obstacles.
Prendergast has struggled at times against Steele, a Towson native, who is 19-4 including victories over Prendergast in the finals of the Eastern Michigan Open on Nov. 3 and two weeks later at the Navy Classic. Still, it hasn?t been enough for Steele, who was pinned by Prendergast in a match on Dec. 30, to wrestle the starting spot from him.
Prendergast is expected to be in the lineup tonight at 7 when 21st-ranked Midshipmen (1-2) host No. 22 Maryland (7-3) at the Naval Academy?s Halsey Field House in the annual match between the state?s two Division I teams.
“At most schools, a senior is winding down his career, but at Navy your career is just getting started,” Navy coach Bruce Burnett said. “There is a lot of responsibilities and added course work at Navy in your last year. I think Ed had a hard time getting back because of that. But Scott has earned the opportunity he?s had this year.”
Steele said: “It?s been a great competition between Ed and me this year. It?s been great looking at the other end of a tournament bracket, seeing Ed there and hoping we both get to the finals.”
Steele will cheer for Prendergast (21-4), when he steps to mat against Maryland redshirt freshman Patrick Gilmore (9-7) looking to extend his winning streak to 12.
“I didn?t even start wrestling again until the season started in October so it took me a while to get back into form,” Prendergast, who was hindered by a knee injury earlier this season, said. “Now that we are in the dual-meet season, I feel like I?m getting stronger.”
Navy has dominated the Terrapins, winning the past 10 matches. But Maryland, which went 3-13-1 three years ago, has its highest ranking since 1990. Maryland is coming off a very good showing at the Southern Scuffle in Greensboro, N.C., last month, as the Terrapins placed fifth ? four spots higher than the Midshipmen ? in the 28-team field.
“Pat [Santoro] has done an outstanding job at Maryland,” Burnett said. “A lot of the top kids around who would have gone to Lehigh [where Santoro was an assistant] are now going to College Park.”
No. 22 NAVY vs. No. 21 MARYLAND
» When: Tonight, 7
» Where: Halsey Field House, Annapolis
