Bethlehem Catholic High School wrestler Kyle Dehaut chooses the University of Maryland

It didn’t take long for Kyle Dehaut to decide he wanted to be a Maryland Terrapin next season.

The Bethlehem Catholic senior, who finished second at 152 pounds in the PIAA Class AA wrestling tournament last March, has accepted a wrestling scholarship at the University of Maryland, where he’ll wrestle for former Olympian Kerry McCoy for the 2011-12 season.

Five wrestlers from The Express-Times region are currently on the Maryland roster, including Kyle John, a junior 157-pounder. John was a senior at Bethlehem Catholic when Dehaut was a freshman, and the two continued to stay in touch the last three years.

Maryland competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“I wouldn’t say my relationship with Kyle was the only reason I wanted to go to Maryland, but it helped,” said Dehaut, who went 37-7 last season and has 86 wins for his high school career.

“I just made my decision (Wednesday) evening. I actually just spoke to Kyle,” Dehaut added. “Coach McCoy was a big factor, too. I mean, how could you not want to wrestle for someone like him? I just loved the facilities, the atmosphere and the campus. It’s just a great fit for me.”

Dehaut, who plans to major in either history or secondary education, also considered Lehigh and George Mason among his other college choices.

Other region wrestlers on the Maryland roster are freshman Mike Hartenstine of Easton and junior Matt Bogusz of Parkland, both at 141 pounds; freshman Jimmy Sheptock of Northampton at 165, and junior Pat Strizki of Hunterdon Central at 125.

McCoy, in addition to his experience as an Olympic and All-American wrestler, also coached at Lehigh before coming to Maryland in 2007.

“Kyle is a quiet kid but he’s a great kid,” said Jeff Karam, Bethlehem Catholic’s coach. “He’s a hardnosed young man and one of the hardest-working wrestlers I’ve ever had. I’ve actually had to tell him to back off on workouts sometimes, and how many high school kids do you have to say that to?”

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