TEMPE, Ariz. – In front of an uproarious, record-breaking crowd of 8,522, the Arizona State wrestling team handed Penn State its first loss in a dual since 2015, defeating the Nittany Lions 19-18 Friday night at Desert Financial Arena.
DOWN GOES NO. 1 PENN STATE??@ASUWrestling snaps their 60-meet win streak and hands them their first loss since 2015! pic.twitter.com/KuSnzhPlFZ
— Arizona State Sun Devils (@TheSunDevils) November 23, 2019
The Sun Devils started off strong out of the gate thanks to an 18-7 major decision victory by Brandon Courtney (125 lbs.), giving ASU an early 4-0 lead in the dual. With the victory, the redshirt-sophomore moves to a perfect 9-0 on the season.
Penn State then pulled ahead with consecutive victories at 133 and 141 lbs.
ASU would regain the lead at the 149 lbs. weight class as No. 21 Josh Maruca fought a tough battle to earn a 5-4 decision over childhood teammate Josh Verkleeren.
In the first home match of his Sun Devil career, redshirt-freshman Jacori Teemer (157) followed up with an 8-4 decision, bringing the score to 10-8 in favor of the Sun Devils heading into the intermission.
After the Nittany Lions won the first two matches coming out of the break to go ahead 15-10, a Penn State forfeit at the 184 lb. weight class saw ASU pull ahead yet again, this time regaining the lead at 16-15.
Wrestling for the first time in almost a year, junior Kordell Norfleet put on a heroic performance, earning a 10-4 decision which extended the Sun Devils' lead to 19-15.
?? @KD70_ TAKEDOWN??
— Sun Devil Wrestling (@ASUWrestling) November 23, 2019
?? Pac-12 Arizona
?? https://t.co/UwOL9WNscr pic.twitter.com/7vof388mg1
The decision ultimately gave ASU what they needed to put the Nittany Lions away, as Penn State's win at 285 lbs. was not enough to give them the edge in the dual.
Next up for ASU, the team heads to Las Vegas for the Cliff Keen Invitational Friday-Saturday, Dec. 6-7. Fans can follow along by following @ASUWrestling on Twitter.
Results: No. 5 Arizona State 19, No. 1 Penn State 18
125: Brandon Courtney (ASU) MD Brody Teske (PSU), 19-7
133: #3 Roman Bravo-Young (PSU) DEC #11 Josh Kramer (ASU), 7-6
141: #3 Nick Lee (PSU) TF Cory Crooks (ASU), 18-3 (4:28)
149: #21 Josh Maruca (ASU) DEC Josh Verkleeren (PSU), 5-4
157: Jacori Teemer (ASU) DEC Bo Pipher (PSU), 9-4
165: #1 Vincenzo Joseph (PSU) DEC #5 Josh Shields, 7-4
174: #1 Mark Hall (PSU) MD #8 Anthony Valencia (ASU), 11-3
184: #1 Zahid Valencia (ASU) FOR
197: Kordell Norfleet (ASU) DEC Kyle Conel (PSU), 10-4
285: #1 Anthony Cassar (PSU) DEC #5 Tanner Hall (ASU), 9-5
A word with Coach Zeke Jones:
On the upperclassmen who bought into the program early:
"It took vision, it took Zahid and Anthony (Valencia), Tanner (Hall), Josh (Shields), Josh (Maruca) - they were the first believers. They were the first believers that we could get to this place. I've said it before. Now their belief is coming true. Just the first belief that it could be done, and now they're the first doers."
On how it felt going into the second half with a lead:
"Well, I felt really good that - you know, how many dual meets have we all watched that when we go into (165 lbs.) we're feeling really good - however, Penn State feels probably a little better than we do. However, I think our group responded, I think they stepped up, I think they took the challenge."
On Kordell Norfleet's performance:
"He's a world-class athlete. He'd be an NFL all-pro if he were playing football. He has a tremendous ability, speed, strength. He has excellent technique and he loves to compete. I think he's just going to start showing people how good he is. But like anything, he needs to continue to improve and I think he will."