TEMPE, Ariz.— The No. 8 Sun Devil wrestling team puts their 10-match win streak on the line with the only top-10 vs. top-10 matchup in any sport this season at Wells Fargo Arena on Friday night (7 pm) vs. No. 7/11 Lehigh.
Arizona State is going for an undefeated record at home for the first time since 1992-93 with the home finale on Friday. Friday's match will also serve as Senior Day with Jason Tsirtsis, Oliver Pierce, Christian Pagdilao, and Ali Naser honored at halftime.
Friday's match will also be broadcast live on the Sun Devil Wrestling Facebook page in conjunction with the Pac-12 Conference (www.facebook.com/SunDevilWrestling).
Those who attend Thursday night's men's basketball game can bring their ticket stub from Thursday and get a $6 reduced ticket for Friday night's wrestling match. The first 100 season ticket holders through the door will also receive an ASU tumbler.
After Friday, the Sun Devils head to Cal Poly on Sunday for the regular season and Pac-12 finale (2 pm MT). Sunday's match will be streamed live on Cal Poly's YouTube page (link to stream on TheSunDevils.com/wrestling and click on "schedule").
WIN STREAK
The Sun Devils are currently riding a 10-match win streak, in sole possession of the third-longest win streak in program history. The 1977-78 team won 13 straight and the 1975-76 team earned a perfect 15-0 record for the longest win streak in program history.
The 10-match win streak is also the fourth longest currently in the NCAA.
5 THINGS TO KNOW PRIOR TO FRIDAY NIGHT'S DUAL
Before coming out to the meet, here are five important things to know about the matchup:
1. Arizona State has a set of brothers – Pac-12 champion Anthony Valencia and All-American Zahid Valencia (both redshirt sophomores) while Lehigh also has a set of brothers – All-American Scott Parker and brother, Matt, a freshman.
2. With ASU ranked as high as No. 8 by the NWCA and Lehigh ranked as high as No. 7 by Trackwrestling, this will be the first top-10 vs. top-10 matchup in Wells Fargo Arena this season.
3. The Sun Devils and Mountain Hawks have two common opponents this season – Michigan and Virginia Tech – which each team split decisions with. ASU defeated then-No. 9 Virginia Tech, 21-15, to win their first Virginia Duals title but lost to then-No. 3 Michigan, 21-18, in their dual opener. Lehigh, on the other hand, lost to Virginia Tech most recently, 20-17, but defeated Michigan, 27-8, in November.
4. A marquee matchup at 125 lbs, All-American No. 12 Ryan Millhof will face No. 1 Darian Cruz, the defending national champion at the weight class.
5. No. 1 at 174 lbs. and undefeated on the season, Zahid Valencia (a Hodge Award contender) will have one of his toughest tests yet vs. No. 5 Jordan Kutler, who bumped up two weight classes from 157 lbs. last season. Prior to the bout, Valencia will have defeated No. 3 Bo Jordan (Ohio State), No. 4 Myles Amine (Michigan), No. 6/7 Taylor Lujan (Northern Iowa), No. 9 Keaton Subjeck (Stanford), No. 10 Yoanse Meijas (Oklahoma) and No. 10 David Kocer (South Dakota State).