(Photo: Travis David V Whittaker/WCSN)
TEMPE, Ariz. — ASU wrestling (5-10) bounced back from their four dual-meet losing streak in dominating fashion, defeating the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners 24-12.
The victory marked the Sun Devils first since defeating Oregon State in Corvallis Jan. 20.
“It’s nice. As a team we’d like to say we’re 0-0 on the year right now because ultimately it doesn’t matter who you’re going against or who’s on the line across from you because anybody can win the postseason,” No. 4 ranked 165-lb. Josh Shields said.
Brandon Courtney (125) started off the meet in dominating fashion, taking the major decision victory over CSU Bakersfield’s Eddie Flores 13-5, giving ASU the early 4-0 lead.
Sean Nickell brought home three of CSU Bakersfield’s 12 points by defeating ASU’s Josiah Kline (133) in a 7-2 decision, cutting the Sun Devils lead down 4-3.
Cory Crooks (141) halted any momentum CSU Bakersfield gained from the previous match by defeating Carlos Herrera by major decision, 9-1. The victory extended ASU’s lead to 8-3.
The 149-lb. and 157-lb. matches were decided in the Sun Devils favor, with Josh Maruca (149) defeating Russell Rohlfing 5-3 and No. 16 Christian Pagdilao (157) getting his arm raised in victory over Wyatt Gerl, 5-3.
The Sun Devils went into the intermission with a comfortable 14-3 lead.
Shields started off the first match after the intermission with a major decision victory over Jacob Thalin, 11-3, bringing the Sun Devils lead up to 18-3.
“I’m just trying to do the best I can for my team and that’s just trying to score and win a number of positions,” Shields said. “And that’s something Zeke preaches all the time, is you have to attack from every position and I tried to do that.”
CSU Bakersfield had a medical forfeit for the 174-lb. match, surrendering an extra six points to the Sun Devils. The extra six points marked a 24-3 lead for ASU.
However, the Sun Devils did not score any more team points after the 174-lb. match. The Roadrunners took decision victories in the 184-lb., 197-lb. and HWT matches, marking a 24-12 victory in favor of ASU.
The Sun Devils will look to build on their win against CSU Bakersfield Feb. 22 as they take on the Cal Poly Mustangs at Wells Fargo Arena for their final meet before the PAC-12 Championships.
