BETHLEHEM, Pa. - No. 5 Arizona State (1-0) opened the wrestling season with a 25-16 statement victory over No. 21 Rutgers (2-1) Saturday afternoon in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Wrestling in one the final matches of the Journeymen Wrangle Mania, ASU used victories at 125, 133, 149, 165, 174 and 197 to get the first win of the year. The match was highlighted by a huge pin by 165 Tony Negron over Connor O'Neill, and seven Sun Devils made their debuts on the varsity starting lineup.
"It was fun fighting," head coach Zeke Jones said. "Rutgers came wanting to wrestle and they wanted to win so we had to put hands on each other and find out who the best team was. Leaving four All-Americans at home isn't easy but we rallied and did a good job.
"Negron and Fagen obviously competed tough," Jones added. "We had a lot of new kids putting on singlets and it was great to see those two really compete hard. Richie Figueroa - really emotional in a tough bout against a top-20 kid, but he got a W and we'll take it."
No. 4 Michael McGee, Negron, and Cael Valencia all earned bonus points in the match. McGee's 11-3 victory over Joe Heilmann was the 26th major decision victory of his collegiate career, while Negron earned his fifth fall - and first since 2020. Valencia's points came via a medical forfeit.
Sun Devils making their varsity debuts: Figueroa, Max Wilner, Negron, Valencia, Anthony Montalvo, Jonathan Fagen, David Palosika.
Up Next
ASU completes its swing through the Keystone State Sunday with the Journeymen Collegiate Classic. Wrestling is scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m. at Freedom high school. Fans can watch the matches live via FloWrestling here.
Home Opener
Arizona State opens the home slate with a huge matchup against No. 3 Missouri Thursday Nov. 17 in the brand new Mullett Arena. Wrestling starts at 7:00 p.m. A total of 10 All-Americans will be in the building, including defending national champion at 165 Keegan O'Toole. Tickets are still available and will be sold at the door too.
No. 5 Arizona State 25, No. 21 Rutgers 16
125: Richard Figueroa (ASU) over 20/17 Dylan Shawver (RU) by decision, 5-3; ASU leads, 3-0
133: 4/4 Michael McGee (ASU) over 18/16 Joe Heilmann (RU) by MD, 11-3; ASU leads, 7-0
141: 12/21 Sammy Alvarez (RU) over 19/23 Jesse Vasquez (ASU) by decision, 8-4; ASU leads, 7-2*
149: 6/4 Kyle Parco (ASU) over 31/HM Tony White (RU) by decision, 11-5; ASU leads, 10-2
157: Andrew Clark (RU) over Max Wilner (ASU) by decision, 2-0; ASU leads, 10-5
165: Tony Negron (ASU) over Connor O'Neill (RU) by fall (1:4); ASU leads, 16-5
174: Cael Valencia (ASU) over 24/HM Jackson Turley (RU) by MFF (3:33); ASU leads, 22-5
184: Brian Soldano (RU) over 17/22 Anthony Montalvo (ASU) by tech fall, 18-3 (5:15); ASU leads, 22-10
197: Jonathon Fagen (ASU) over 31/HM Billy Janzer (RU) by SV1, 3-1; ASU leads, 25-10
HWT: 31/HM Boone McDermott (RU) over David Palosika (ASU) by fall (2:14); ASU wins, 25-16
TONY CALLED MATCH.
— Sun Devil Wrestling (@ASUWrestling) November 12, 2022
??: Rokfin https://t.co/BvEiea1M5X pic.twitter.com/ShMgHuqT7X
"It was fun fighting," head coach Zeke Jones said. "Rutgers came wanting to wrestle and they wanted to win so we had to put hands on each other and find out who the best team was. Leaving four All-Americans at home isn't easy but we rallied and did a good job.
"Negron and Fagen obviously competed tough," Jones added. "We had a lot of new kids putting on singlets and it was great to see those two really compete hard. Richie Figueroa - really emotional in a tough bout against a top-20 kid, but he got a W and we'll take it."
No. 4 Michael McGee, Negron, and Cael Valencia all earned bonus points in the match. McGee's 11-3 victory over Joe Heilmann was the 26th major decision victory of his collegiate career, while Negron earned his fifth fall - and first since 2020. Valencia's points came via a medical forfeit.
Sun Devils making their varsity debuts: Figueroa, Max Wilner, Negron, Valencia, Anthony Montalvo, Jonathan Fagen, David Palosika.
Got it done ?? pic.twitter.com/tRjJRsPVlE
— Sun Devil Wrestling (@ASUWrestling) November 12, 2022
Up Next
ASU completes its swing through the Keystone State Sunday with the Journeymen Collegiate Classic. Wrestling is scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m. at Freedom high school. Fans can watch the matches live via FloWrestling here.
Home Opener
Arizona State opens the home slate with a huge matchup against No. 3 Missouri Thursday Nov. 17 in the brand new Mullett Arena. Wrestling starts at 7:00 p.m. A total of 10 All-Americans will be in the building, including defending national champion at 165 Keegan O'Toole. Tickets are still available and will be sold at the door too.
No. 5 Arizona State 25, No. 21 Rutgers 16
125: Richard Figueroa (ASU) over 20/17 Dylan Shawver (RU) by decision, 5-3; ASU leads, 3-0
133: 4/4 Michael McGee (ASU) over 18/16 Joe Heilmann (RU) by MD, 11-3; ASU leads, 7-0
141: 12/21 Sammy Alvarez (RU) over 19/23 Jesse Vasquez (ASU) by decision, 8-4; ASU leads, 7-2*
149: 6/4 Kyle Parco (ASU) over 31/HM Tony White (RU) by decision, 11-5; ASU leads, 10-2
157: Andrew Clark (RU) over Max Wilner (ASU) by decision, 2-0; ASU leads, 10-5
165: Tony Negron (ASU) over Connor O'Neill (RU) by fall (1:4); ASU leads, 16-5
174: Cael Valencia (ASU) over 24/HM Jackson Turley (RU) by MFF (3:33); ASU leads, 22-5
184: Brian Soldano (RU) over 17/22 Anthony Montalvo (ASU) by tech fall, 18-3 (5:15); ASU leads, 22-10
197: Jonathon Fagen (ASU) over 31/HM Billy Janzer (RU) by SV1, 3-1; ASU leads, 25-10
HWT: 31/HM Boone McDermott (RU) over David Palosika (ASU) by fall (2:14); ASU wins, 25-16