(Photo: Travis David V Whittaker/WCSN)
The result was never in doubt on senior night Friday, Jan. 3. as the No. 5 (10-1) ASU wrestling rolled over PAC-12 rival No. 14 Stanford on their way to a 28-12 win in the last home dual of the season.
A historically successful class of seniors bid farewell to Desert Financial Arena in a dual that showcased the team’s strengths and weaknesses.
Wrestling started at 157-lb and the first half of the dual was dominated by the Sun Devils.
At 165-lb. Josh Shields fell in SV2 to Shane Griffith of Stanford, ASU would have pitched a shutout during the five matches of the dual had shields prevailed.
Redshirt freshman 157-lb. Jacori Teemer continued his breakout inaugural campaign with a dominant 19-4 near fall victory to begin the night. Following Shield’s close OT loss, the Valencia brothers took any confidence Stanford may have had and ended it swiftly. Anthony turned in a Maj. Dec. preceding Zahid’s typically dominant TF 20-4 victory.
Following the match, the decorated senior exited the mat to a standing ovation, and acknowledged a strong crowd of ASU fans as he left Desert financial Arena for the final time.
“I hadn’t given it too much thought in the days leading up to the dual,” Zahid Valencia said. “Today was really the first time I thought about this being my last meet at home. It’s crazy to think that this part of my journey is going to be over.”
Perhaps the most dramatic moment of the first half came at 197-lb. as Kordell Norfleet upsets Stanford’s No.6 ranked Nathan Traxler in SV2. Norfleet walked it off in overtime with a takedown at the end of the sixth period. An outburst from Traxler immediately following the match resulted in a one point penalty for the Cardinal, and ASU took a 16-2 lead into the break.
To begin the second half, Tanner Hall and Brandon Courtney delivered wins, but the Devils were then haunted by the lower weight struggles that have plagued them often this season.
Josh Kramer and Navonte Demison both suffered losses in their respective matches.
“I think Josh [Kramer] has got some things to work out with his diet, and we’re working on that,” Jones said. He’s just in a little bit of a slump right now, We’ll reevaluate some of his strategy.”
149-lb. Dillon Ulrey was able to close out the dual with a victory at 149-lb, putting the finishing touches on a Sun Devil win that secures a perfect 8-0 home record on the season.
Looking ahead as the season begins to hit the home stretch the Sun Devils will be on the road. Trips include duals to Little Rock, Missouri and Cal Poly. The No. 5 ranked Sun Devils are still over a month away from postseason competition, leaving them plenty of time to refine their craft before hitting the mat in the PAC-12 and national tournaments.
