Valencia dominates in clash of top-ranked wrestlers in Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational Finals

Las Vegas, Nev. – In impressive fashion, Arizona State’s Zahid Valencia proved that he was indeed the nation’s top 184 pounder, defeating No. 2 Trent Hidlay of NC State, 12-4, in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational finals. On his path to the finals, Valencia earned bonus points in all of his matches, including a technical fall over No. 7 Sam Colbray of Iowa State, 26-8 and a 13-4 major decision over No. 3 Lou DePrez of Binghamton.

Valencia is a two-time National champion and one time third place finisher at 174 pounds.

Another top-ranked wrestler who rolled through the tournament was Ohio State’s Kollin Moore at 197 pounds. Moore earned bonus points in four out of five matches, including a 16-6 major decision over No. 19 Christian Brunner of Purdue in the finals.

Luke Pletcher was another top-ranked Buckeye that impressed. In the 141 pound finals, he defeated 2019 All-American No. 4 Mitch McKee of Minnesota, 10-6

At 157 pounds, No. 4 Ryan Deakin of Northwestern took home the title and most likely will be the new No. 1 wrestler in his weight class. In the finals, he defeated current No. 1 and two-time All-American Hayden Hidlay of NC State, 6-2. Deakin had lost to Hidlay at last year’s NCAA tournament, 8-2. Additionally, in the semifinals Deakin took out the current No. 2 Iowa State’s David Carr, 9-3.

In a battle of redshirt freshmen at 149 pounds, Minnesota’s Brayton Lee emerged victorious over Ohio State’s Sammy Sasso, 6-4. Lee had lost to Sasso at the Edinboro Open last year, also by a score of 6-4. However, in May he would defeat Sasso two matches to none to earn a spot on the Men’s Freestyle Junior World Team.

Nebraska won the team race with 118 points. Their sole champion was Isaiah White at 165 pounds. White defeated two-time All-American Josh Shields of Arizona State in the finals, 3-1, in sudden victory.

Ohio State finished runner-up with 109.5 points, followed by Arizona State with 103, Northern Iowa with 94 and Purdue with 92.5, rounding out the top five.

Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational

at Las Vegas Nevada

Final Results
125
1st - Jack Mueller Charlottesville, VA (Virginia) DEC Devin Schroder West Lafayette, IN (Purdue), 6-2
3rd - Michael Deaugustino Evanston, IL (Northwestern) DEC Joey Prata Blacksburg, VA (Virginia Tech), 5-2
5th - Alexander Mackall Ames, IA (Iowa State) DEC Brandon Courtney Goodyear, AZ (Arizona State), 8-5
7th - Jacob Schwarm Cedar Falls, IA (Northern Iowa) F Malik Heinselman Castle Rock, CO (Ohio State), 1:38

133
1st - Charles Tucker Ithaca, NY (Cornell) DEC Montorie Bridges Laramie, WY (Wyoming), 4-1
3rd - Ridge Lovett Post Falls, ID (Nebraska) DEC Todd Small Ames, IA (Iowa State), 7-1
5th - Mosha Schwartz Franktown, CO (Northern Colorado) DEC Dylan Koontz Plover, WI (Ohio State), 6-5
7th - Anthony Madrigal Oak Park, IL (Oklahoma) DEC Tim Rooney Kent, OH (Kent State), 3-1 SV

141
1st - Luke Pletcher Latrobe, PA (Ohio State) DEC Mitchell McKee Hanover, MN (Minnesota), 10-6
3rd - Dom Demas Columbus, OH (Oklahoma) TF Ian Parker Ames, IA (Iowa State), 19-4 5:05
5th - Chad Red Jr. Lincoln, NE (Nebraska) MD Michael Blockhus Cresco, IA (Northern Iowa), 16-6
7th - Tariq Wilson Raleigh, NC (NC State) DEC Mitch Moore Blacksburg, VA (Virginia Tech), 5-3 SV

149
1st - Brayton Lee Minneapolis, MN (Minnesota) DEC Sam Sasso Nazareth, PA (Ohio State), 6-4
3rd - Yahya Thomas Chicago, IL (Northwestern) DEC Griffin Parriott Webster, MN (Purdue), 10-3
5th – Max Thomsen Cedar Falls, IA (Northern Iowa) M FOR Jarrett Degen Ames, IA (Iowa State),
7th – Brock Zacherl Mayport, PA (Clarion) DEC Collin Purinton Lincoln, NE (Nebraska), 5-3

157
1st - Ryan Deakin Broomfield, CO (Northwestern) DEC Hayden Hidlay Lewistown, PA (NC State), 6-2
3rd - David Carr Ames, IA (Iowa State) DEC Kendall Coleman West Lafayette, IN (Purdue), 4-0
5th - Jacob Wright Dinuba, CA (Fresno State) M FOR Justin Thomas Huntington Beach, CA (Oklahoma)
7th - Peyton Robb Lincoln, NE (Nebraska) DEC Jacori Teemer Long Beach, NY (Arizona State), 5-0

165
1st - Isaiah White Lincoln, NE (Nebraska) DEC Joshua Shields Tempe, AZ (Arizona State), 3-1 SV
3rd - Thomas Bullard Raleigh, NC (NC State) F Ethan Smith Aberdeen, MD (Ohio State), 6:23
5th - Andrew Fogarty Fargo, ND (North Dakota State) F Shayne Oster Homer Glen, IL (Northwestern), 1:44
7th - Philip Conigliaro Dedham, MA (Harvard) DEC Bailee O'Reilly Minneapolis, MN (Minnesota), 10-3

174
1st - Dylan Lydy West Lafayette, IN (Purdue) DEC Bryce Steiert Waverly, IA (Northern Iowa), 3-1 SV
3rd - Michael Labriola Easton, PA (Nebraska) DEC Devin Skatzka Minneapolis, MN (Minnesota), 7-5 SV
5th - Anthony Valencia Tempe, AZ (Arizona State) M FOR Kimball Bastian Orem, UT (Utah Valley)
7th - Hayden Hastings Laramie, WY (Wyoming) F Brandon Womack Ithaca, NY (Cornell), 6:55

184
1st - Zahid Valencia Tempe, AZ (Arizona State) MD Trent Hidlay Raleigh, NC (NC State), 12-4
3rd - Hunter Bolen Blacksburg, VA (Virginia Tech) DEC Taylor Lujan Cedar Falls, IA (Northern Iowa), 9-7
5th - Taylor Venz Lincoln, NE (Nebraska) F Lou DePrez Binghamton, NY (Binghamton), 1:29
7th - Benjamin Darmstadt Ithaca, NY (Cornell) M FOR Jelani Embree Eastpointe, MI (Michigan)

197
1st - Kollin Moore Burbank, OH (Ohio State) MD Christian Brunner IL (Purdue), 16-6
3rd - Thomas Lane Garden City, NY (Cal Poly) DEC Jake Woodley Pittsburgh, PA (Oklahoma), 4-2
5th - Eric Schultz Lincoln, NE (Nebraska) DEC Greg Bulsak South Park Township, PA (Clarion), 4-2
7th - Jacob Seely Grand Junction, CO (Northern Colorado) DEC Jay Aiello VA (Virginia), 7-3

285
1st - Mason Parris Lawrenceburg, IN (Michigan) DEC Tanner Hall Tempe, AZ (Arizona State), 6-3
3rd - Tate Orndorff Orem, UT (Utah Valley) DEC Gannon Gremmel Ames, IA (Iowa State), 3-2
5th - Carter Isley Cedar Falls, IA (Northern Iowa) DEC Christian Lance Nixa, MO (Nebraska), 3-1
7th – John Borst Blacksburg, VA (Virginia Tech) DEC Brian Andrews Laramie, WY (Wyoming), 6-2