ST. LOUIS – Two-time Pac-12 Champion and two-time All-American Brandon Courtney (125) will headline the first lightweight NCAA DI Wrestling Championship on Saturday night at 4 pm MST on ESPN at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Courtney looks to become the first Sun Devil wrestler to win a National title since Zahid Valencia at the 2019 NCAA DI Wrestling Championships in Pittsburgh. His opponent, No. 1 Spencer Lee (Iowa) has won the last two 125 Championships.
"I'm excited for Brandon Courtney. He's competing for the National Championship tomorrow and it's something to dream about and many people never get to do," head coach Zeke Jones said. "Not only is Brandon here, he's in position to make history. He gets an opportunity to wrestle one of our country's best and I know he's excited about the challenge. No one thinks he can win but we do."
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— Sun Devil Wrestling (@ASUWrestling) March 20, 2021
On day two of the National Tournament, Courtney (125), Michael McGee (133), Jacori Teemer (157), Anthony Valencia (165) and Cohlton Schultz (285) were named 2021 All-Americans.
This is the first All-American award for Schultz and McGee and the second for Courtney, Teemer and Valencia.
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— Sun Devil Wrestling (@ASUWrestling) March 20, 2021
"It's always nostalgic to add names to our hall of fame," Jones stated. "Courtney, McGee, Teemer, Valencia, Schultz will be solidified in history tomorrow."
McGee, Teemer and Schultz will wrestle tomorrow morning at 8 am MST on ESPN3 in consolations round five. The three each have a guaranteed place of sixth in their respective weight classes.
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— Sun Devil Wrestling (@ASUWrestling) March 20, 2021
The Sun Devils currently sit in fourth place with their team score (67.0), trailing Iowa (109.0), Penn State (94.5) and Oklahoma State (86.5). ASU looks to place in the top-three for the first time since 1989-90 when head coach Bobby Douglas led the Sun Devils to second place (104.75).
"It was a heck of a roller coaster today. We started fast out of the gate, but then we had a roadblock before we decided that we were not going to let anything get in our way," Jones said. "We came storming back tonight and put ourselves in trophy contention. Our men are excited about making history."
Five Sun Devil bouts were won by major decisions today while redshirt freshman Schultz claimed his first tournament pin when he defeated No. 25 Nathan Traxler (Stanford) in his first consolation match.
2021 ??????-????????????????#ForksUp x #O2V pic.twitter.com/svcipZ3Ulz
— Sun Devil Wrestling (@ASUWrestling) March 20, 2021
In the first session of round three, the Sun Devils were defeated in three of their four quarterfinal bouts. To conclude the third round, ASU was in eighth place (31.5).
Anthony Valencia was ahead in his quarterfinal match against No. 7 Ethan Smith (OSU) before was hurt midway through the second period which ultimately led to his downfall.
Valencia rebounded in his consolation match against No. 21 Peyton hall (WVU), earning the Sun Devils points on their team score with his 13-4 major decision victory.
"I'm most proud of Anthony who was wrestling on one leg, but decided that he would put his team's goals ahead of his own, so he went out there to help his team and score points," Jones said. "He's given us a chance to wrestle for a trophy."
2021 ??????-????????????????#ForksUp x #O2V pic.twitter.com/BH1Mx51Bwk
— Sun Devil Wrestling (@ASUWrestling) March 20, 2021
Valencia will begin tomorrow morning in fifth round of consolation matches against Cameron Amine from Michigan. The All-American has a guaranteed place of eighth in his weight class.
Once again the night ended with the Colorado native on the mat. Schultz faced No. 9 Greg Kerkvliet in dominating fashion earning four takedowns along with the ride time bonus point in the 14-8 decision victory.
As a team, the Sun Devils are third (266) for most total match points, ahead of current No. 3, Oklahoma State.
Saturday's consolations start at 11 am ET/8 am PT on ESPNU while every match on every mat is streamed on ESPN3. The Championship Round will be streamed on ESPN at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT.
Fans can follow @ASUWrestling on Twitter and Facebook for live updates of the three-day event and @asuwrestling1962 on Instagram.
#3 Brandon Courtney (125)
First Round - Brandon Courtney (ASU) defeats #30 Micah Roes (Binghamton), MD 17-7
Second Round - Brandon Courtney (ASU) defeats #19 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin), Decision 11-7
Quarters - Brandon Courtney (ASU) defeats #6 Jakob Camacho (NCST), Decision 4-2
Semis - Brandon Courtney (ASU) defeats #7 Taylor LaMont (UVU), TB-1 2-1
UP NEXT (Finals) - Brandon Courtney (ASU) vs. #1 Spencer Lee (Iowa)
#9 Michael McGee (133)
First Round - Michael McGee (ASU) defeats #24 Richie Koehler (Rider), MD 13-4
Second Round - #8 Chris Cannon (Northwestern) defeats Michael McGee (ASU), Fall, 3:00
Consolation Round 2 - Michael McGee (ASU) defeats #23 Boo Dryden (Minnesota), MD 16-3
Consolation Round 3 - Michael McGee (ASU) defeats #19 Malyke Hines (Lehigh), MD 15-7
Consolation Round 4 - Michael McGee (ASU) defeats #10 Louie Hayes (Virginia), Decision 8-4
UP NEXT (Consolation Round 5) - Michael McGee (ASU) vs. #4 Austin DeSanto (Iowa)
#31 Cory Crooks (149)
First Round - #2 Austin O'Connor (UNC) defeats Cory Crooks (ASU), MD 12-4
Consolation Round 1 - Cory Crooks (ASU) defeats #18 Jarrett Degen (ISU), Decision 8-6
Consolation Round 2 - #17 Kyle Parco (Fresno State) defeats Cory Crooks (ASU), Decision 3-2
#11 Jacori Teemer (157)
First Round - Jacori Teemer (ASU) defeats #22 Benjamin Barton (Campbell), MD 12-4
Second Round - #6 Brayton Lee (Minnesota) defeats Jacori Teemer (ASU), Decision 5-3
Consolation Round 2 - Jacori Teemer (ASU) defeats #21 Andrew Cerniglia (NAVY), MD 15-7
Consolation Round 3 - Jacori Teemer (ASU) defeats #14 Will Lewan (MICH), SV-1 4-2
Consolation Round 4 - Jacori Teemer (ASU) defeats #33 Wyatt Sheets (OKST), MD 13-4
UP NEXT (Consolation Round 5) - Jacori Teemer (ASU) vs. #2 Hayden Hidlay (NCST)
#2 Anthony Valencia (165)
First Round - Anthony Valencia (ASU) defeats #31 David Ferrante (Northwestern), MD 14-4
Second Round - Anthony Valencia (ASU) defeats #18 Izzak Olejnik (Northern Illinois), SV-1 6-4
Quarters - #7 Ethan Smith (Ohio State) defeats Anthony Valencia (ASU), MD 13-4
Consolation Round 3 - Anthony Valencia (ASU) defeats Peyton Hall (WVU), MD 13-4
Consolation Round 4 - #6 Keegan O'Toole (MIZZ) defeats Anthony Valencia (ASU), MD 16-1
UP NEXT (Consolation Round 5) - Anthony Valencia (ASU) vs. Cameron Amine (MICH)
#20 Trey Munoz (174)
First Round - Trey Munoz (ASU) defeats #13 Jackson Hemauer (UNCO), Decision 7-2
Second Round - #4 Mikey Labriola (Nebraska) defeats Trey Munoz (ASU), Decision 5-3
Consolation Round 2 - #19 Michael O'Malley (Drexel) defeats Trey Munoz (ASU), Fall 1:36
#3 Kordell Norfleet (197)
First Round - Kordell Norfleet (ASU) defeats #30 Trey Rogers (Hofstra), MD 12-3
Second Round - Kordell Norfleet (ASU) defeats #19 Thomas Penola (Purdue), Decision 8-4
Quarters -#6 Nino Bonaccorsi (Pitt) defeats Kordell Norfleet (ASU), Decision 4-1
Consolation Round 3 - #7 Rocky Elam (MIZZ) defeats Kordell Norfleet (ASU), MD 12-3
#4 Cohlton Schultz (285)
First Round - Cohlton Schultz (ASU) defeats #29 Jon Spaulding (Edinboro), MD 9-0
Second Round - Cohlton Schultz (ASU) defeats #13 Brian Andrews (WYO), DQ
Quarters -#5 Tony Cassioppi (Iowa) defeats Cohlton Schultz (ASU), Decision 4-1
Consolation Round 3 - Cohlton Schultz (ASU) defeats #9 Greg Kerkvliet (PSU), Decision 14-8
UP NEXT (Consolation Round 4) - Cohlton Schultz (ASU) vs. Gannon Gremmel (ISU)