PITTSBURGH – With history repeating itself, Zahid Valencia (174) and Penn State's Mark Hall will face for the third consecutive year at NCAA's and second straight in the championship match. Valencia looks to become the first ASU wrestler to win back-to-back titles at the same weight class and just the third all-time to win two NCAA titles (also Dan St. John in 1989-90 and Markus Mollica in 1993, 1995).
Josh Shields (165) and Valencia (174), both No. 3 seeds at their respective weight classes, became All-Americans for the second and third time, respectively, with wins in Friday morning's NCAA quarterfinals. Valencia advanced to the NCAA semifinals for the third straight year while it was Shields' first trip to the semis.
Valencia became the 10th three-time All-American in Sun Devil Wrestling history (last was Anthony Robles from 2009-11). His revenge victory over the No. 2 seed, Missouri's Daniel Lewis, served as No. 100 of his career. Shields is two wins away from career win No. 100.
No. 9 Christian Pagdilao (157) became ASU's third All-American of the season in consolation round four to start Friday evening, his first career All-American honor. ASU has three or more All-Americans in back-to-back years for the first time since the 1996-1997 championship seasons.
No. 23 Josh Maruca's (149) season ended in the consolation second round Friday morning.
Saturday morning starting at 11 am ET on ESPNU/ESPN3, Pagdilao will wrestle for seventh vs. No. 7 Larry Early of Old Dominion while Shields will have a rematch vs. No. 5 Chance Marsteller of Lock Haven. Shields came away victorious earlier this season in a dual match at Red Lion High School. With a win, Shields will have a chance to wrestle for third and, with a loss, he'll wrestle for fifth. The NCAA Finals will be live on ESPN starting at 7 pm ET Saturday night.
#23 Josh Maruca (149)
First Round (Thursday) – #10 Pat Lugo (Iowa) DEC #23 Josh Maruca, 5-2
Cons. Round 1 (Thursday) – #23 Josh Maruca DEC #7 Kaden Gfeller (Oklahoma State), 8-3
Cons. Round 2 (Friday) – #9 Justin Oliver (NC State) DEC #23 Josh Maruca, 9-5
#9 Christian Pagdilao (157)
First Round (Thursday) – #9 Christian Pagdilao MD #24 Joshua McClure (UNC), 12-2
Second Round (Thursday) – #9 Christian Pagdilao DEC #8 Josh Humphreys (Lehigh), 11-7
Quarterfinals (Friday) – #1 Jason Nolf (Penn State) TF #9 Christian Pagdilao, 23-6 (7:00)
Cons. Round 4 (Friday) – #9 Christian Pagdilao DEC #12 Taleb Rahmani (Pitt), 13-7
Cons. Round 5 (Friday) – #4 Alec Pantaleo (Michigan) DEC #9 Christian Pagdilao, 9-4
Next up: 7th Place (Saturday) – #9 Christian Pagdilao vs. #7 Larry Early (Old Dominion)
#3 Josh Shields (165) – All-American
First Round (Thursday) – #3 Josh Shields MD #30 Colston DiBlasi (George Mason), 14-4
Second Round (Thursday) – #3 Josh Shields MD #14 Jesse Dellavecchia (Rider), 10-2
Quarterfinals (Friday) – #3 Josh Shields DEC #11 Bryce Steiert (UNI), 6-0
Semifinals (Friday) – #2 Vincenzo Joseph (Penn State) DEC #3 Josh Shields, 3-2
Next up: Cons. Round 6 (Saturday) – #3 Josh Shields vs. #5 Chance Marsteller (Lock Haven)
#3 Zahid Valencia (174) – All-American
First Round (Thursday) – #3 Zahid Valencia MD #30 Dean Sherry (Rider), 11-2
Second Round (Thursday) – #3 Zahid Valencia MD #14 Kimball Bastian (Utah Valley), 16-5
Quarterfinals (Friday) – #3 Zahid Valencia FALL #22 Ben Harvey (Army), 2:12
Semifinals (Friday) – #3 Zahid Valencia MD #2 Daniel Lewis (Missouri), 11-3
Next up – Finals (Saturday) #3 Zahid Valencia vs. #1 Mark Hall (Penn State)
Josh Shields (165) and Valencia (174), both No. 3 seeds at their respective weight classes, became All-Americans for the second and third time, respectively, with wins in Friday morning's NCAA quarterfinals. Valencia advanced to the NCAA semifinals for the third straight year while it was Shields' first trip to the semis.
Valencia became the 10th three-time All-American in Sun Devil Wrestling history (last was Anthony Robles from 2009-11). His revenge victory over the No. 2 seed, Missouri's Daniel Lewis, served as No. 100 of his career. Shields is two wins away from career win No. 100.
No. 9 Christian Pagdilao (157) became ASU's third All-American of the season in consolation round four to start Friday evening, his first career All-American honor. ASU has three or more All-Americans in back-to-back years for the first time since the 1996-1997 championship seasons.
No. 23 Josh Maruca's (149) season ended in the consolation second round Friday morning.
Saturday morning starting at 11 am ET on ESPNU/ESPN3, Pagdilao will wrestle for seventh vs. No. 7 Larry Early of Old Dominion while Shields will have a rematch vs. No. 5 Chance Marsteller of Lock Haven. Shields came away victorious earlier this season in a dual match at Red Lion High School. With a win, Shields will have a chance to wrestle for third and, with a loss, he'll wrestle for fifth. The NCAA Finals will be live on ESPN starting at 7 pm ET Saturday night.
#23 Josh Maruca (149)
First Round (Thursday) – #10 Pat Lugo (Iowa) DEC #23 Josh Maruca, 5-2
Cons. Round 1 (Thursday) – #23 Josh Maruca DEC #7 Kaden Gfeller (Oklahoma State), 8-3
Cons. Round 2 (Friday) – #9 Justin Oliver (NC State) DEC #23 Josh Maruca, 9-5
#9 Christian Pagdilao (157)
First Round (Thursday) – #9 Christian Pagdilao MD #24 Joshua McClure (UNC), 12-2
Second Round (Thursday) – #9 Christian Pagdilao DEC #8 Josh Humphreys (Lehigh), 11-7
Quarterfinals (Friday) – #1 Jason Nolf (Penn State) TF #9 Christian Pagdilao, 23-6 (7:00)
Cons. Round 4 (Friday) – #9 Christian Pagdilao DEC #12 Taleb Rahmani (Pitt), 13-7
Cons. Round 5 (Friday) – #4 Alec Pantaleo (Michigan) DEC #9 Christian Pagdilao, 9-4
Next up: 7th Place (Saturday) – #9 Christian Pagdilao vs. #7 Larry Early (Old Dominion)
#3 Josh Shields (165) – All-American
First Round (Thursday) – #3 Josh Shields MD #30 Colston DiBlasi (George Mason), 14-4
Second Round (Thursday) – #3 Josh Shields MD #14 Jesse Dellavecchia (Rider), 10-2
Quarterfinals (Friday) – #3 Josh Shields DEC #11 Bryce Steiert (UNI), 6-0
Semifinals (Friday) – #2 Vincenzo Joseph (Penn State) DEC #3 Josh Shields, 3-2
Next up: Cons. Round 6 (Saturday) – #3 Josh Shields vs. #5 Chance Marsteller (Lock Haven)
#3 Zahid Valencia (174) – All-American
First Round (Thursday) – #3 Zahid Valencia MD #30 Dean Sherry (Rider), 11-2
Second Round (Thursday) – #3 Zahid Valencia MD #14 Kimball Bastian (Utah Valley), 16-5
Quarterfinals (Friday) – #3 Zahid Valencia FALL #22 Ben Harvey (Army), 2:12
Semifinals (Friday) – #3 Zahid Valencia MD #2 Daniel Lewis (Missouri), 11-3
Next up – Finals (Saturday) #3 Zahid Valencia vs. #1 Mark Hall (Penn State)