Sun Devils Snap PSU Wrestling Streak
TEMPE, Ariz. – The Penn State Nittany Lions (1-1, 0-0 B1G), ranked No. 1 nationally on InterMat’s Tournament Power Index (TPI), lost a hard-fought dual at No. 6 Arizona State (5-0) in a top ten non-conference meeting in Tempe, Ariz Friday night. The two teams split bouts five each, but Arizona State won the bonus point battle and posted a 19-18 victory in front of an Arizona State record-setting crowd of 8,542. The loss snapped a Penn State streak of 60 straight wins.
The dual began at 125 where Lion freshman Brody Teske (Duncombe, Iowa) suffered a 19-7 major decision to No. 19 Brandon Courtney to give the Sun Devils an early 4-0 lead. Arizona native Roman Bravo-Young (Tucson, Ariz.), ranked No. 3 at 133, took care of No. 16 Josh Kramer, posting a 7-6 win to get Penn State on the board. Junior Nick Lee (Evansville, Ind.), ranked No. 3 at 141, put Penn State on top with a resounding 18-3 technical fall over Cory Crooks at the 4:28 mark in the second period.
Sophomore Jarod Verkleeren (Greensburg, Pa.) dropped a 5-4 decision to ASU senior Josh Maruca at 149, and the Nittany Lion lead was cut to 8-7. With No. 5 Brady Berge held out of the dual, junior Bo Pipher (Paonia, Colo.) moved up to 157 once more and lost a 9-4 decision to Arizona State’s Jacori Teemer. Teemer’s win gave ASU a 10-8 lead at intermission.
Senior Vincenzo Joseph (Pittsburgh, Pa.), ranked No. 1 at 165, rolled over No. 5 Josh Shields to begin the second half. Joseph notched the bout’s only takedowns on his way to a 7-4 win. Senior Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), ranked No. 1 at 174, then put Penn State up 15-10 by dominating No. 8 Anthony Valencia. Hall posted the 11-3 major decision to put Penn State up 15-10. No. 2 Shakur Rasheed (Coram, N.Y.) did not compete and freshman Creighton Edsell (Wyalusing, Pa.) was not able to as well, giving No. 1 Zahid Valencia the forfeit victory at 184.
The six-point swing gave the Sun Devils a 16-15 lead. Graduate Kyle Conel (Ashtabula, Ohio), ranked No. 7 at 197, lost a 10-4 decision to Sun Devil Kordell Norfleet to give Arizona State a 19-15 lead. Senior Anthony Cassar (Rocky Hill, N.J.), ranked No. 1 at 285, needed something big to grab the dual meet for the Nittany Lions and nearly turned the trick in the first period. Cassar turned No. 5 Tanner Hall to his back midway through the period and appeared to have a fall twice, but no pin was awarded and Cassar went on to post a 9-5 win. The victory cut ASU’s lead down to one but Arizona State posted the 19-18 upset victory.
Penn State won the takedown battle 19-16 but ASU had a 4-3 edge in bonus points, thanks in large part to a forfeit victory at 184.
Penn State is now 1-1 on the year, 0-0 B1G. Arizona State improves to 5-0. Penn State will visit Lehigh in its next action. The Nittany Lions are at Lehigh on Friday, Dec. 6, in a 7 p.m. dual. Two days later, Penn State hosts Penn in Rec Hall. The Lions and Quakers battle on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m.
#1 Penn State 18, #6 Arizona State 19
November 22, 2019 – Tempe, Ariz.
125: #19 Brandon Courtney ASU maj. dec. Brody Teske PSU, 19-7 0-4
133: #3 Roman Bravo-Young PSU dec. #16 Josh Kramer ASU, 7-6 3-4
141: #3 Nick Lee PSU tech fall Cory Crooks ASU, 18-3 (TF; 4:28) 8-4
149: Josh Maruca ASU dec. Jarod Verkleeren PSU, 5-4 8-7
157: Jacori Teemer ASU dec. Bo Pipher PSU, 9-4 8-10
165: #1 Vincenzo Joseph PSU dec. #5 Josh Shields ASU, 7-4 11-10
174: #1 Mark Hall PSU maj. dec. #8 Anthony Valencia ASU, 11-3 15-10
184: #1 Zahid Valencia ASU won by forfeit 15-16
197: Kordell Norfleet ASU dec. #7 Kyle Conel PSU, 10-4 15-19
285: #1 Anthony Cassar PSU dec. #5 Tanner Hall ASU, 9-5 18-19
Attendance: 8,542
Records: Penn State (1-1, 0-0 B1G); Arizona State (5-0)
Up Next for Penn State: at Lehigh, Friday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m.
