ASU Wrestling: Sun Devils ground Mountain Hawks

(Photo: Reece Andrews/WCSN)

After some sluggish middleweight bouts, No. 17 Arizona State (4-4) completed a comeback with wins in the dual’s first two matches as well as four of the last six for a 20-16 road win over No. 21 Lehigh (6-9) on Friday. 

ASU started strong with wins by 165-pound junior Tony Negron and 174-pound redshirt freshman Cael Valencia.

Negron put together a great rebound performance after disappointing results in his last two outings, taking down senior Luca Frinzi by a 6-2 decision. Negron maintained control in the third round to keep Frinzi at bay after he gained the advantage after a methodical single-leg takedown in the second period.

It took overtime for a Valencia to be ruled the winner of an 8-6 decision over senior Jake Logan earned on a takedown in the sudden-death period.

Two disappointing losses at 184 pounds and 197 pounds by ASU backups let Lehigh back into the dual.

Sun Devils freshman Shay Addison suffered a major-decision defeat to No. 20 senior Tate Samuelson before freshman Damion Schunke’s fall loss to No. 3 sophomore Michael Beard gave the Mountain Hawks a 10-6 advantage.

Enter Cohlton Schultz.

The No. 5 sophomore heavyweight steadied ASU’s chances with a 3-2 decision win over sophomore Nathan Taylor.

Then, the Sun Devils nabbed two lightweight decision wins at 125 pounds and 133 pounds to regain the lead.

ASU No. 7 125-pound senior Brandon Courtney had a convincing 9-3 decision win over freshman Carter Bailey. No. 4 senior Michael McGee followed with an eventful 8-6 decision victory versus No. 6 sophomore Connor McGonagle. 

In what has become his norm, No. 5 149-pound sophomore Kyle Parco turned in another eye-popping performance in a 15-0 technical fall victory over sophomore Manzona Bryant that secured the meet for ASU.

No. 13 141-pound sophomore Jesse Vasquez was upset by sophomore Malyke Hines via a 2-1 decision because of a riding-time bonus point and redshirt freshman Max Wilner lost to sophomore Max Brignola by a 3-0 decision in the evening’s final match, but it was all but decided.

ASU had its second straight win in the aftermath of a four-dual losing streak.

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