Adam Coon of Michigan throws Tanner Hall of Arizona State in their heavyweight bout. Photo by Sam Janicki.

Michigan Press Release by Leah Howard

What you need to know
» Michigan won six of 10 individual matches, earning major decisions in three, to defeat No. 11 Arizona State, 21-18, in its dual-meet opener.
» Sal Profaci clinched the dual at 141 pounds, fighting off three deep leg attacks in the first to cruise to a 12-0 major decision against Nikko Villarreal.
» Adam Coon used a big four-point throw at the end of the first period to secure a 5-2 decision against fourth-ranked Tanner Hall at heavyweight.

Site: Novi, Mich. (Detroit Catholic Central HS)
Score: No. 4 Michigan 21, No. 11 Arizona State 18
Records: U-M (1-0), ASU (0-1)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Nov. 19 -- at Lehigh (Bethlehem, Pa.), 2 p.m.

NOVI, Mich. -- The No. 4-ranked University of Michigan wrestling team built its lead early through the upperweights and took advantage of a bonus win to knock off No. 11 Arizona State, 21-18, on Friday evening (Nov. 10) at Detroit Catholic Central High School. The Wolverines won six of 10 individual bouts, earning major decisions in three.

Arizona State claimed the dual's first bout at 157 pounds -- on a last-second takedown -- but Michigan claimed four of the next five matches through the middle -- and upperweights before junior/sophomore Sal Profaci clinched the dual win with a 12-0 major decision against Nikko Villarreal at 141 pounds -- with one match remaining.

Profaci fought off three deep leg attacks in the first period before breaking the bout open on a reshot on the edge in the waning moments of the period. Profaci pulled Villarreal back to the center of the mat with a single leg and, when Villarreal tried to dive through, put him on his back for six points and a sizable first lead. Profaci added two more takedowns -- one each in the second and third periods -- and rode for 1:04 advantage time.

After ASU claimed two of the opening three bouts, junior/sophomore Logan Massa and fifth-year senior Domenic Abounader put Michigan ahead for good with their wins at 165 and 184 pounds, respectively, but both had to overcome early deficits. Massa, ranked third nationally, gave up the first takedown to sixth-ranked Anthony Valencia -- and had to fight off his back early -- but rallied with four takedowns for an 11-3 major decision -- already his second win over the Sun Devils this season.

Abounader, ranked fifth, gave up two takedowns in the first period to Kordell Norfleet, but reversed the Sun Devil to his back in the waning moments of the opening frame and pulled away with takedowns in the second and third for a 10-5 decision victory.

Graduate student Kevin Beazley, ranked sixth nationally, won his Michigan dual-meet debut -- and return to his alma mater, DCC -- with a 7-2 decision against Cade Belshay at 197 pounds. Beazley built his lead with takedowns in the first and second periods and, despite giving up a takedown in the third, accumulated 2:23 in riding-time advantage.

Graduate student Adam Coon, ranked second, won perhaps the dual's marquee match with a 5-2 decision against fourth-ranked Tanner Hall at heavyweight. After looking for an upper-body tie for much of the first period, he capitalized late in the frame, tossing Hall to his back for four points with just second remaining on the clock. Hall scored his points on two escapes in the third period -- the latter off a Coon injury time. The win was Coon's second over a ranked opponent this season.

A Michigan forfeit at 125 pounds -- due to a nagging injury and two true freshmen presently still on redshirt -- narrowed the team score to 13-12, but the Wolverines responded with back-to-back major decisions to seal the team win.

Junior/sophomore Stevan Micic, ranked second at 133 pounds, preceded Profaci's dual-clinching win with an equally dominant 15-5 major decision against Ali Naser. Micic blew the match open in the first period with three takedowns and four near falls off the latter -- a foot sweep late in the frame. After Naser scored a takedown in the second, Micic sealed the bonus win with another of his own in the third, riding out the match for 2:23 time advantage.

Michigan will hit the road next Sunday (Nov. 19), traveling to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to face Lehigh at 2 p.m. at Grace Hall.

#4 Michigan 21, #11 Arizona State 18
Individual rankings from InterMat
157 --#12 Josh Shields (ASU) dec. #7 Alec Pantaleo, 4-3
165 --#3 Logan Massa (U-M) major dec. #6 Anthony Valencia, 11-3
174 -- #1 Zahid Valencia (ASU) dec. #4 Myles Amine, 4-2
184 -- #5 Domenic Abounader (U-M) dec. Kordell Norfleet, 10-5
197 -- #6 Kevin Beazley (U-M) dec. Cade Belshay, 7-2
Hwt -- #2 Adam Coon (U-M) dec. #4 Tanner Hall, 5-2
125 -- #7 Ryan Millhof (ASU) won by forfeit
133 -- #2 Stevan Micic (U-M) major dec. Ali Naser, 15-5
141 -- Sal Profaci (U-M) major dec. Nikko Villarreal, 12-0
149 -- #13 Josh Maruca (ASU) injury def. Malik Amine, 2:08

Arizona State press release

NOVI, Mich. – The No. 6 Sun Devils took the early lead, holding two different leads early in the match, and trailed by just a point with three weights to go, but ultimately fell, 21-18, to No. 3 Michigan in their season-opening dual.

"Overall, our men competed well; they wrestled hard and competed with toughness, but ultimately we couldn't control all the variables," said head coach Zeke Jones. "I'm proud of the fight but we certainly have some cleaning up to do to push past a team like that."

The dual starting at 157 lbs., Pac-12 champion Josh Shields continued his impressive start to the season with a 4-3 decision after winning a title at the Michigan State Open last weekend, giving ASU the early 3-0 lead. Shields' late single leg within the final 20 seconds earned him the victory.

At 165, Pac-12 champion Anthony Valencia got the first takedown, but Michigan took the lead, 4-3, after third-ranked Logan Massa strung together four takedowns for an 11-3 major decision.

Top-ranked All-American Zahid Valencia (No. 1), beginning another quest for an undefeated season, regained the lead for the Sun Devils, 6-4, with a 4-2 decision.

True freshmen Kordell Norfleet (184) and Cade Belshay (197) made their Sun Devil debuts in back-to-back weights just before intermission but Michigan once again regained the lead, 10-6, a lead they would ultimately keep for the duration.

All-American and third-ranked Tanner Hall earned a pair of escapes near the end of his bout with No. 2 Adam Coon, ultimately falling 5-2, but a Wolverine forfeit at 125 lbs. brought the Sun Devils back within one, 13-12.

A pair of major decisions for Michigan at 133 and 141 lbs ultimately sealed the fate of the match but the margin would be narrowed as Michigan's Malik Amine injury defaulted to No. 13 Josh Maruca in the final bout of the evening (149 lbs).

The Sun Devils regroup and travel to Columbus to face No. 2 Ohio State on Sunday, Nov. 12 (11 am MT), a match which will be streamed on OSU's website with live scoring on Trackwrestling.

Four Sun Devils – Josh Kramer (125), Cory Crooks (141), Christian Pagdilao (157), and Oliver Pierce (157) – will compete at Saturday's Eastern Michigan Open, beginning at 9 am ET/7 am MT. Live coverage can be found on Trackwrestling.

No. 3 MICHIGAN (21), No. 6 ARIZONA STATE (18)
157: No. 12 Josh Shields dec. No. 7 Alec Pantaleo, 4-3
165: No. 3 Logan Massa MD No. 6 Anthony Valencia, 11-3
174: No. 1 Zahid Valencia dec. No. 4 Myles Amine, 4-2
184: No. 5 Domenic Abounader dec. Kordell Norfleet, 10-5
197: No. 6 Kevin Beazley dec. Cade Belshay, 7-2
HWT: No. 2 Adam Coon dec. No. 3 Tanner Hall, 5-2
125: No. 7 Ryan Millhof FF Jack Medley (Forfeit)
133: No. 2 Stevan Micic MD Ali Naser, 15-5
141: Sal Profaci MD Nikko Villarreal, 12-0
149: No. 13 Josh Maruca DEF Malik Amine (Injury Default 2:08)

Note: Michigan press release will be posted when available