ST. LOUIS – After one day of competition, No. 9 Arizona State advanced three – No. 1 Zahid Valencia (174), No. 7 Anthony Valencia (165), and No. 7 Tanner Hall (HWT) – to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, while two – No. 9 Josh Shields (157), and Josh Maruca (149) – continue in wrestlebacks.
As a team, the Sun Devils are currently tied for 12th overall after one day and two rounds of competition (13.5 pts). Penn State, Ohio State, and Oklahoma State lead the team race.
"We went 8-2 on the day and overall, that's a good outcome," said head coach Zeke Jones. "We have a big day tomorrow and we're not favored in two of our three quarters so we have some work to do. Tomorrow we'll have to battle to get on the podium."
No. 1 Zahid Valencia (174) preserved his undefeated freshman season, improving to 35-0, with two bonus point victories, both by major decision. With a team-leading 10 major decisions on the season, Z. Valencia, moves up to a tie for fourth on ASU's all-time major decision wins in a season list.
His older brother, A. Valencia (165), moved up to a tie for seventh on ASU's single season major decisions list with a 11-0 major in the first round.
On Friday morning, the Valencias will face a pair of teammates from Michigan – No. 9 Myles Amine for Zahid and No. 2 Logan Massa for Anthony. This will be the second career meeting in each case – for Zahid, a 4-3 win, while for Anthony, a 6-3 loss, both at CKLV.
"Zahid and Anthony continue to do what they're supposed to do – get their hands raised by large margins. It doesn't mean it's going to be easy, but they're tough and they'll get tough when they need to."
At heavyweight, No. 7 Tanner Hall moved to the round of 16 with a first-round victory over Utah Valley's Dustin Dennison before avenging a sudden victory loss earlier this season to Stanford's Nathan Butler with a win by fall in 7:39.
Hall will now face the No. 2 seed Friday morning, Wisconsin's Connor Medbery, who earlier won a narrow 3-2 decision at the Journeymen Classic in November.
"Tanner Hall came up huge today – beating Nathan Butler from Stanford was a huge win, because Butler has given him trouble in the past. Tanner's focus on getting takedowns makes him tough to beat."
Josh Shields, the No. 9 seed at 157 lbs., earned his ninth major decision in the first round over Duke's Jake Faust before a narrow loss in the round of 16, upset by Rider's Bryant Clagon. Shields joins A. Valencia in a tie for seventh on the Sun Devils' major decision wins in a season list.
"Josh Shields' match still stings. He needs to take care of the little things to win the battle – getting riding time and being the first one to attack at the end of a match. We can't wait for the match to come to us, we have to take it from the other guy."
Josh Maruca started a tough road at this weekend's championships vs. the undefeated No. 1 seed at 149 lbs., Penn State's Zain Retherford. Moving to the wrestleback bracket following a loss, Maruca defeated Eastern Michigan's Nick Barber by a 5-1 decision to cap the night.
In a previous meeting earlier this season, Barber earned an 8-3 decision at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in December.
"Josh Maruca continues to beat people that have beaten him. If you're beating someone now that beat you earlier, it tells me you're improving."
In wrestlebacks, Maruca will face the No. 2 seed, Oklahoma State's Anthony Collica on Friday morning, who was upset in sudden victory in the round of 16. Shields is set to take on Pitt's Taleb Rahmani, who he majored, 12-3, at Midlands just before the New Year.
"Maruca and Shields are tough kids and they'll have to fight their way onto the podium. To get there, they'll have to fight for every position and fight with every move".
Friday morning is set to begin at 10 am CT/8 am PT on ESPNU with quarterfinals and wrestlebacks while semifinals and additional wrestlebacks will take place starting at 7 pm CT/5 pm PT. Morning sessions are broadcast on ESPNU while evening sessions are on ESPN, with all matches on all mats streamed online on ESPN3/Watch ESPN.
Josh Maruca (149)
First Round – No. 1 Zain Retherford (PSU) def. Josh Maruca (ASU), TF 19-2 (4:55)
Wrestlebacks First Round – Josh Maruca (ASU) def. Nick Barber (EMU), Dec 5-1
Josh Shields (157)
First Round – No. 9 Josh Shields (ASU) def. Jake Faust (Duke), MD 12-1
Round of 16 – Bryant Clagon (Rider) def. No. 9 Josh Shields (ASU), Dec 6-5
Anthony Valencia (165)
First Round – No. 7 Anthony Valencia (ASU) def. Cody Burcher (Ohio State), MD 11-0
Round of 16 – No. 7 Anthony Valencia (ASU) def. Te'Shan Campbell (Pitt), Dec 9-2
Zahid Valencia (174)
First Round – No. 1 Zahid Valencia (ASU) def. Christopher Pfarr (Minnesota), MD 19-5
Round of 16 – No. 1 Zahid Valencia (ASU) def. Christian Brucki (Central Michigan), MD 12-3
Tanner Hall (HWT)
First Round – No. 7 Tanner Hall (ASU) def. Dustin Dennison (UVU), Dec 4-2
Round of 16 – No. 7 Tanner Hall (ASU) def. No. 10 Nathan Butler (Stanford), Fall 7:39
As a team, the Sun Devils are currently tied for 12th overall after one day and two rounds of competition (13.5 pts). Penn State, Ohio State, and Oklahoma State lead the team race.
"We went 8-2 on the day and overall, that's a good outcome," said head coach Zeke Jones. "We have a big day tomorrow and we're not favored in two of our three quarters so we have some work to do. Tomorrow we'll have to battle to get on the podium."
No. 1 Zahid Valencia (174) preserved his undefeated freshman season, improving to 35-0, with two bonus point victories, both by major decision. With a team-leading 10 major decisions on the season, Z. Valencia, moves up to a tie for fourth on ASU's all-time major decision wins in a season list.
His older brother, A. Valencia (165), moved up to a tie for seventh on ASU's single season major decisions list with a 11-0 major in the first round.
Fitting for @AnthonadorGold and @Z_MONEY97 to wrestle next to each other in their first time on the big stage #NCAAwrestling #ElevateAll pic.twitter.com/hh3lVeBHK5
— Sun Devil Wrestling (@ASUWrestling) March 16, 2017
On Friday morning, the Valencias will face a pair of teammates from Michigan – No. 9 Myles Amine for Zahid and No. 2 Logan Massa for Anthony. This will be the second career meeting in each case – for Zahid, a 4-3 win, while for Anthony, a 6-3 loss, both at CKLV.
"Zahid and Anthony continue to do what they're supposed to do – get their hands raised by large margins. It doesn't mean it's going to be easy, but they're tough and they'll get tough when they need to."
No. 1 seed Zahid Valencia of @ASUwrestling talks about the person who motivates him most. pic.twitter.com/cnODQ3rI8N
— NCAA Wrestling (@ncaawrestling) March 17, 2017
At heavyweight, No. 7 Tanner Hall moved to the round of 16 with a first-round victory over Utah Valley's Dustin Dennison before avenging a sudden victory loss earlier this season to Stanford's Nathan Butler with a win by fall in 7:39.
Hall will now face the No. 2 seed Friday morning, Wisconsin's Connor Medbery, who earlier won a narrow 3-2 decision at the Journeymen Classic in November.
"Tanner Hall came up huge today – beating Nathan Butler from Stanford was a huge win, because Butler has given him trouble in the past. Tanner's focus on getting takedowns makes him tough to beat."
Josh Shields, the No. 9 seed at 157 lbs., earned his ninth major decision in the first round over Duke's Jake Faust before a narrow loss in the round of 16, upset by Rider's Bryant Clagon. Shields joins A. Valencia in a tie for seventh on the Sun Devils' major decision wins in a season list.
"Josh Shields' match still stings. He needs to take care of the little things to win the battle – getting riding time and being the first one to attack at the end of a match. We can't wait for the match to come to us, we have to take it from the other guy."
Josh Maruca started a tough road at this weekend's championships vs. the undefeated No. 1 seed at 149 lbs., Penn State's Zain Retherford. Moving to the wrestleback bracket following a loss, Maruca defeated Eastern Michigan's Nick Barber by a 5-1 decision to cap the night.
In a previous meeting earlier this season, Barber earned an 8-3 decision at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in December.
"Josh Maruca continues to beat people that have beaten him. If you're beating someone now that beat you earlier, it tells me you're improving."
In wrestlebacks, Maruca will face the No. 2 seed, Oklahoma State's Anthony Collica on Friday morning, who was upset in sudden victory in the round of 16. Shields is set to take on Pitt's Taleb Rahmani, who he majored, 12-3, at Midlands just before the New Year.
"Maruca and Shields are tough kids and they'll have to fight their way onto the podium. To get there, they'll have to fight for every position and fight with every move".
Friday morning is set to begin at 10 am CT/8 am PT on ESPNU with quarterfinals and wrestlebacks while semifinals and additional wrestlebacks will take place starting at 7 pm CT/5 pm PT. Morning sessions are broadcast on ESPNU while evening sessions are on ESPN, with all matches on all mats streamed online on ESPN3/Watch ESPN.
Josh Maruca (149)
First Round – No. 1 Zain Retherford (PSU) def. Josh Maruca (ASU), TF 19-2 (4:55)
Wrestlebacks First Round – Josh Maruca (ASU) def. Nick Barber (EMU), Dec 5-1
Josh Shields (157)
First Round – No. 9 Josh Shields (ASU) def. Jake Faust (Duke), MD 12-1
Round of 16 – Bryant Clagon (Rider) def. No. 9 Josh Shields (ASU), Dec 6-5
Anthony Valencia (165)
First Round – No. 7 Anthony Valencia (ASU) def. Cody Burcher (Ohio State), MD 11-0
Round of 16 – No. 7 Anthony Valencia (ASU) def. Te'Shan Campbell (Pitt), Dec 9-2
Zahid Valencia (174)
First Round – No. 1 Zahid Valencia (ASU) def. Christopher Pfarr (Minnesota), MD 19-5
Round of 16 – No. 1 Zahid Valencia (ASU) def. Christian Brucki (Central Michigan), MD 12-3
Tanner Hall (HWT)
First Round – No. 7 Tanner Hall (ASU) def. Dustin Dennison (UVU), Dec 4-2
Round of 16 – No. 7 Tanner Hall (ASU) def. No. 10 Nathan Butler (Stanford), Fall 7:39