(Photo: Reece Andrews/WCSN)
After No. 8 Arizona State (2-2) dropped a tough road match to No. 4 Iowa State less than a week ago, it has returned home to face a winless Princeton (0-5) squad Sunday at Desert Financial Arena in the programs’ second all-time matchup.
Sporting five reigning All-Americans, the Sun Devils will seek to redeem a 20-18 upset loss suffered in comeback fashion at the Tigers’ Jadwin Gymnasium a season ago.
ASU’s lightweights, which were dominant in their team’s most recent defeat, are primed to have such prowess tested against Princeton. Either No. 6 senior Brandon Courtney or No. 7 redshirt freshman Richard Figueroa will challenge No. 2 senior Patrick Glory — a 2022 NCAA Championships finalist and three-time All-American who’s undefeated this season — as their battle for the starting spot at 125 pounds continues.
While Courtney may be more familiar with Glory after competing across from him last season, that dual was controlled by the Princeton standout in a 12-6 decision that ended Courtney’s 12-match winning streak.
Figueroa has yet to lose in his 11 matches, while Courtney, who was limited by injury in the early stages of his final collegiate campaign, is 5-1 in his appearances.
Elsewhere in the 165-pound division, another difficult match looms for the Sun Devils.
Junior Tony Negron will likely have his hands full with Tigers No. 4 senior Quincy Monday, who’s a three-time NCAA qualifier, two-time All-American and 2022 NCAA finalist, with a 9-0 record to open this season.
The 197-pound class will pit ASU’s No. 20 senior, Kordell Norfleet, or possibly junior Jonathon Fagen against No. 24 sophomore Luke Stout, a returning All-American who’s bested 10 of his 14 opponents. Norfleet, a four-time NCAA Qualifier, boasts a much better 6-5 record than Fagen’s 3-8 mark.
Aiming to build upon his team-high 13 wins, No. 5 149-pound sophomore Kyle Parco — one of five Sun Devils who notched individual wins over Princeton competitors last season — is set to battle an unheralded freshman, Rocco Camillaci.
A match that favors ASU to a similar extent exists at the heavyweight level, where No. 6 sophomore Cohlton Schultz appears to boast quite an advantage over senior Travis Stefanik. And although Stefanik is just 7-7 this season, he’s a three-time NCAA Qualifier — twice at 184 pounds and once in the 174-pound class.
At 184 pounds, No. 18 junior Anthony Montalvo will get junior Nate Dugan, whose 8-4 decision over sophomore Zane Coleman was crucial to Princeton’s recovery in an eventual team win.
After securing the Sun Devils’ first victory on the Tigers’ home mat in dominant fashion during his junior campaign, No. 4 133-pounder Michael McGee is the overwhelming favorite in his match with junior Sean Pierson, who is just 4-8 this season.
For ASU’s No. 20 sophomore in the 141-pound division, Jesse Vasquez, next up is sophomore Danny Coles, who’s only 6-6 this season despite managing a critical 8-7 win by decision against Cleveland Belton — now at Oregon State — in last season’s dual meet.
