Valencia brothers debut big for Arizona State and lead Sun Devils to 24-19 win

ASU's Zahid Valencia starts the second period on bottom.  Photo: Kobee Stalder, Northern Colorado

GREELEY, Colo. – The NCAA college season kicked off with a thriller in Greeley, Colo., as the dual between Northern Colorado and No. 21 Arizona State came down to heavyweight, where a major-decision performance from ASU’s Tanner Hall sealed a 24-19 win for the Sun Devils.


“It was a dog fight. They came out and punched us in the face pretty good in the first half of the dual,” Arizona State head coach Zeke Jones said. “I told them we either put our heads down or we fight. They responded well. When I gave them the opportunity to fight back, they popped up and it was on their shoulders to get it done.”


ASU stormed back to win the dual after trailing, 15-6, at intermission. Explosive performances from Anthony and Zahid Valencia helped push the Sun Devils to a 1-0 start on the season.


Anthony Valencia made his varsity entrance for the Sun Devils at 165 pounds, taking on Keilan Torres, a junior for the Bears. Valencia piled on 13 points before sticking Torres with a minute left in the bout.

2016 Junior World Team member Zahid Valencia’s long-awaited dual debut had finally arrived and he did not disappoint. Valencia was called on to wrestle at 184 pounds to help fill in a lineup that was missing a 197-pounder. He went head-to-head with redshirt sophomore Dylan Gabel. In only five minutes, Valencia racked up 19 points to end the match in a 19-3 tech fall and give the Sun Devils their first lead of the dual.

“It was awesome finally being part of the team and wrestling out on the mat. I love the group of guys that I’m with and going to battle. I liked how we all pushed each other to do their best,” Valencia said. “[Wrestling at 184] was a game-time decision to see how the dual was going, and the coaches said I had to go 184. I didn’t hesitate to say yes and go out there and do my part.”


An early victory from Division I newbie Ali Naser earned ASU its first win of the night at 133 pounds, defeating Rico Montoya in a tight 5-3 match.


“It was a little different in a Division I folkstyle match and the transitioning was different,” Naser said. “Overall, it was pretty good. I just have to stay offensive and work more on it, but I liked wrestling.”


ASU also boasts wins from Josh Shields (157) and Jacen Peterson (174) on the night.


Bonus points was the theme of the night for Northern Colorado as all four of the Bears wins came by way of major decision, technical fall or pin.


“I think our team competed well for it being this early in the season,” Northern Colorado head coach Troy Nickerson said. “We always preach to go out there and not only win but dominate your opponent. Obviously we did that tonight. We have to find a way with those close matches as well. That’s what really cost us tonight. We’re young and we need to get better, but I think these guys are committed to that.”


At 125 pounds, Trey Andrews got the momentum going for the Bears. He went down early in the first period but rallied to take a 17-5 major decision against ASU’s Josh Kramer.


Timmy Box and Ben Polkowske produced back-to-back wins at 141 and 149 pounds, respectively.


Box picked up a big 15-0 technical fall over Tyler Sage in the first three minutes of competition, while Polkowske defeated Robbie Mathers with a first-period fall.


The final bonus-point performance for UNC came from 2016 UWW Junior men’s freestyle national champion Jacob Seely, whose 10-1 major over Conner Small cut the Sun Devils lead to one point heading into the final bout.


The Bears will be back in action on Saturday at the Cowboy Open in Laramie, Wyo., while the Sun Devils travel to South Dakota for the Daktronics Open on Sunday.

No. 21 Arizona State 24, Northern Colorado 19
Nov. 4, 2016 :: Bank of Colorado Arena :: Greeley, Colo.

Attendance - 852


125: Trey Andrews (UNC) win by maj. decision Josh Kramer (ASU), 17-5

133: Ali Naser (ASU) win by decision Rico Montoya (UNC), 5-3

141: Timmy Box (UNC) win by tech fall Tyler Sage (ASU), 15-0, 3:00

149: Ben Polkowske (UNC) win by fall Robbie Mathers (ASU), 2:04

157: Josh Shields (ASU) win by decision Jimmy Fate (UNC), 10-5

165: Anthony Valencia (ASU) win by fall Keilan Torres (UNC), 5:56

174: Jacen Peterson (ASU) win by decision Tanner Davis (UNC), 5-3

184: Zahid Valencia (ASU) win by tech. fall Dylan Gabel (UNC), 19-3, 5:00

197: Jacob Seely (UNC) win by maj. decision Conner Small (ASU), 10-1

285: Tanner Hall (ASU) win by maj. decision Jack Kuck (UNC), 15-4