ASU Wrestling: Sun Devils upset No. 1 Penn State; Hands Nittany Lions first dual loss in 5 years

Friday evening Sun Devil Wrestling made history, beating Penn State 19-18. This is Penn State first dual loss in over 5 years.

ASU Wreslting also beat their previous attendance record when 8,522 people watched in Desert Financial Arena. 

The match started with the 125-pound weight class with ASU’s Brandon Courtney and Penn State’s Brody Teske. In the first and second periods, Courtney got close to pinning Teske. Earning the extra riding time point, winning the match by major decision 18-7. 

At 133 pounds, Roman Bravo-Young barely defeated Josh Kramer 7-6. Kramer earned two points in the 3rd period for stalling calls against Bravo-Young. 

Nick Lee defeated Cory Crooks in the 141-pound weight class 19-3 earning Penn State team tech-fall points. Penn State took the team lead 8-4. 

The 149-pound battle was close as Sun Devil Josh Maruca battled Luke Gardner for the Nittany Lions. In the first period, Coach Zeke Jones challenged a no-call takedown and the call was reversed.

Desert Financial Arena roared as Jacori Teemer and Bo Pipher started wrestling at 157-pounds. Teemer got the crowd riled up each time he scored, including a reversal in the second period. Final match score 9-4. Sun Devils regained the lead 10-8.

Josh Shields lost a tight match 4-7 to Vincenzo Joseph at the 165-pound weight class. Giving Penn State an 11-10 lead. 

Anthony Valencia and Mark Hall wrestled at 174-pounds. Hall earned the major decision with an 11-3 win.  

Zahid Valencia won by forfeit when Penn State failed to put anyone up against the two-time national champion. Giving the Sun Devils the lead 16-15.

The crowd was fired up when Kordell Norfleet and Kyle Conel began wrestling at 197-pounds. Norfleet’s two takedowns in the first period sent the fans chanting, “A-S-U.” After 10-4 win by Norfleet, the Sun Devils were up 19-15.

Tanner Hall lost to Anthony Cassar 9-5, but the Sun Devils took down #1 Penn State 19-18.

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