TEMPE – Sun Devil Wrestling opened the season with their annual Maroon and Gold scrimmage, held at Desert Financial Arena on Halloween. This was the fans first look at returning wrestlers, such as Big 12 champion Nicco Ruiz, and the newest recruiting class, who was ranked in the top 10 in the nation.
The day kicked off with two 149-pound matches, beginning with junior Daniel Miranda against freshman Jamar Dixon, where Miranda won by major decision 15-1. Then moved to junior Pierson Manville and sophomore Gael Moreno, with Manville winning by fall, 13-2 in the second period, advancing Miranda and Manville to the last match of the day to to decide the sole winner of the 149-lb division. Manville ultimately took the match, winning against Miranda by major decision, 18-5.
The 125-pound match between freshman Christian Castillo and junior Damian Moreno saw Castillo taking the matchup, 4-1, as a takedown by Castillo in the third period was enough to defeat Moreno. Sophomore Kyler Larkin took the 141-lb matchup against Emilio Ysaguirre, winning by fall in the first three minutes.
Senior Nicco Ruiz took down freshman Justin Wardlow in a 12-2 decision in the 165-pound matchup. Sophomore Aidan Ysaguirre defeated Phoenix native Luke Issak in the 197-pound match, 4-1 with a takedown late in the match to secure the win. Between the heavyweights, freshman Ben Szuba and freshman Kal-El Fluckiger, Szuba took the win 4-2 in the third period with a takedown.
Gold edged out the win in the end, taking down the Maroon squad 22-21. The Sun Devils will return to Desert Financial Arena six more times this season to compete at home. Arizona State begins their season on the road at the Michigan State Open before returning home on November 14 to host the Sun Devil Invitational at 11 a.m. The invitational will feature ASU against Arizona Christian, Hope International, and Embry-Riddle.
Saturday Match Results:
149: Daniel Miranda def. Jamar Dixon - (MD 15-1).
149: Pierson Manville def. Gael Moreno - (F 13-2, 2:40)
125: Christian Castillo def. Damian Moreno - (Dec. 4-1)
133: Adrian Meza def. Gavin Bauder - (Dec. 5-1)
141: Kyler Larkin def. Emilio Ysaguirre - (F, 3:35)
157: Gabriel Delgado def. Jabari Hinson - (Dec. 4-2)
165: Nicco Ruiz def. Justin Wardlow - (MD 12-2)
184: Aidan Brenot def. Azizbek Fayzullaev - (MD 11-3)
197: Aidan Ysaguirre def. Luke Issak (Dec. 4-1)
HWT: Ben Szuba def. Kal-El Fluckiger (Dec. 4-2)
149: Pierson Manville def. Daniel Miranda - (MD 18-5)
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