(Tempe, AZ) Sun Devil Wrestling (5-4, 2-1 Pac-12) dominated at Mullett Arena tonight, defeating the Little Rock Trojans 31-6. Highlighting the match was No. 7 Brandon Courtneywho collected his 100th career victory off a 16-8 major decision. Celebrations continued as No. 4 Michael McGee earned his 125th career win with a 17-1 tech fall, No. 5 Kyle Parcopicked up a 20-2 tech fall, No. 21 Anthony Montalvo secured his 50th career win in a 13-3 major decision, and Josh Nummer jumped up two weight classes to earned a huge win at 197. ASU is on a three-match winning streak and looking to carry this momentum in their next matchup at No. 20 Oregon State this Sunday (8:00 p.m. AZ, Pac-12 Networks).
Overall, I think the guys competed well,” head coach Zeke Jones said. “We talked about scoring a lot of points coming into tonight and not judging a team for how good they are before you wrestle them, and then focused on just scoring points. Courtney hung 17, McGee responded with 17, and then I told Vasquez that they scored 17 so he scored 19, and then when I told Parco that he scored 20. That was just impressive with the first four guys coming out and scoring a lot of points. Although we didn’t get a win in the next two weights, I thought the energy was good. We had enough momentum that it was gonna roll into those next weight classes, and obviously Montalvo and Nummer got out there and battled really tough and followed it up with a good win at heavyweight. We could decide that our team was significantly better tonight and it’s because they had a good focus.”
Of note:
Brandon Courtney’s 17-9 victory against Jerimiah Reno was his 100th of his career. No 21 Anthony Montalvo secured his 50th career win in a 13-3 major decision, and No. 4 Michael McGee recorded his 125th career victory in a 17-1 tech fall victory.
Both No. 4 Michael McGee and No. 5 Kyle Parco secured their eighth dual victories of the season.
No. 5 Cohlton Schultz remains undefeated in dual matches on the year, with his latest victory a 4-2 decision over Josiah Hill.
The Sun Devils’ 31 point match total tonight is the most points they have secured against an opponent all season. Additionally, the Sun Devils are riding a three-match winning streak.
The Sun Devils look to extend their victories against top-25 ranked opponents to 5 on Sunday against No. 20 Oregon State.
Arizona State vs. Little Rock
125: Brandon Courtney (ASU) over Jeremiah Reno (LR) (MD 16-8)
133: Michael McGee (ASU) over Joshua Sarpy (LR) (TF 17-1 5:00)
141: Jesse Vasquez (ASU) over Jayden Gomez (LR) (MD 19-6)
149: Kyle Parco (ASU) over Joseph Bianchi (LR) (TF 20-2 6:51)
157: Matthew Bianchi (LR) over Max Wilner (ASU) (Dec 4-3)
165: Tyler Brennan (LR) over Tony Negron (ASU) (Dec 5-0)
174: Cael Valencia (ASU) over Triston Wills (LR) (Dec 5-1)
184: Anthony Montalvo (ASU) over Mason Diel (LR) (MD 13-3)
197: Josh Nummer (ASU) over Matthew Weinert (LR) (Dec 4-2)
285: Cohlton Schultz (ASU) over josiah hill (LR) (Dec 4-2)
Quotables
Josh Nummer on his win:
“It feels pretty great, man. It’s just always a privilege to get out there and compete with my teammates. We’ve trained hard all year long so it’s great. I don’t care what weight class it is, we’re just gonna go out there and we’re gonna fight a guy and we’re gonna have a fun time.”
Brandon Courtney on his 100 wins, the legacy he wants to leave at ASU, and his battle for 125:
“I just want to go out there and have fun. I didn’t even realize I was at 100 until they announced it yesterday. I want to be that guy that just always has a smile on his face, having fun.
It’s crazy, we got two of the top ten guys in the country at the same weight. Whatever happens happens, I just take it day by day and let everything fall into place, but it definitely motivates me a little bit.”
Michael McGee on the team ramping up for the rest of this season:
“I think it’ll be about us sticking together and buying into our coach’s plan. Our coaches have been doing this for a long time and we have a bunch of guys that have experience at national tournaments. We’re just trusting in ourselves and our abilities and the plan that our coaches have, and just trying not to get weird about it, as Coach was saying.”
Kyle Parco on the strength across the nation at 149 lbs:
“This year, with the level of competition, I look at it as though it will be a better win; a better victory when I go. Coach Zeke talks about it a lot. At the end of the day, I think any of those top five guys can win a national championship, so I just have to make sure that it’s me.”
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Will Edmonds
Click on Logo
