HAMPTON, Va. – When it comes down to dual meets, it always helps to have a hammer at heavyweight. After jumping to an early lead in the lightweights, No. 10 Arizona State relied upon its big man at the end, on the way to a 21-15 win over No. 9 Virginia Tech to win the Virginia Duals title in the National College Division on Saturday night.
After Virginia Tech scored major decisions by No. 6 Zach Zavatsky at 184 pounds and No. 3 Jared Haught at 197 pounds, the defending champion Hokies closed the Sun Devil lead to 18-15 going into heavyweight.
But, All-American and No. 4 ranked Tanner Hall closed it out for Arizona State, controlling the final match to score a 6-1 win over No. 24 Andrew Dunn to give Arizona State its first National Duals team title.
The Sun Devils came out fast with two victories, as their lightweights got their offense going. No. 18 Ryan Milhoff opened with a major decision victory over Kyle Norstrem, 10-0 at 125, followed by a 7-4 victory at 133 by No. 23 Ali Naser over No. 14 Dennis Gustafson. Zeke Jones’ Sun Devils led 7-0 after two bouts.
The Hokies responded with a victory at 141, as Brent Moore stopped Nicholas Villerreal, 2-0. With no first-period takedown, Moore earned a second period escape, and rode out Villerreal in the third period to add a riding time point.
No. 12 Josh Maruca got Arizona State back on the scoreboard, with a 4-0 win over Ryan Blees at 149 pounds. The first period had no takedowns, although both athletes were close to scoring. Maruca rode Blees the entire second period. After Blees chose neutral in the third, Maruca scored a double-leg takedown on a re-shot and rode Blees out the rest of the match, getting 3:20 in riding time.
Arizona State kept up the pressure at 157, when No. 12 Joshua Shields edged B.C. LaPrade, 5-4, with the difference a third-period escape. LaPrade scored the first takedown and led 3-2 after the first period. After a LaPrade second period takedown, Shields scored a takedown to knot it at 4-4 going into the final period. The Sun Devils had won four of the first five matches and seemed to be running away with the dual meet.
Virginia Tech changed the momentum at 165 pounds, as No. 3 David McFadden scored a 16-5 major decision over No. 15 Anthony Valencia. Although Valencia scored the first takedown, McFadden took a 3-2 lead at the end of the first with an escape and takedown. He stretched the lead with a reversal and tilt in the second period. McFadden added three takedowns in the third period and riding time for the margin of victory.
At 174 pounds, No. 1 ranked Zahid Valencia added to the Sun Devil lead with a 21-6 technical fall over Cody Hughes. Valencia was dominant on his feet, scoring multiple takedowns in each period to build up his lead, finishing it off in the third period.
With the Sun Devils leading 18-7 after the big Valencia win, the Hokies got back into the match. Zavatsky blew open his 184-pound bout with Kordell Norfleet with a takedown and four-point turn to secure an 11-2 decision. Haught scored takedowns in all three periods, and added third-period backpoints to stop Austyn Harris, 15-2.
At 24, Hall, who has more experience than anybody in the tournament, used his maturity to calmly win the deciding heavyweight bout. He spent a year at the U.S. Olympic Training Center then took a two-year Mormon mission in Uganda before choosing Arizona State for college. Third at the 2017 NCAAs, Hall is just a junior this year. And now a member of a Virginia Duals champion team.
Virginia Tech had won three of the last five Virginia Duals titles, winning the team trophy in 2013, 2015 and 2017.
Placing third in the National College Division was No. 11 Northern Iowa, who won seven of 10 bouts to defeat Oklahoma 25-9.
Finals for the other four divisions were also held. The American College Division went to King, a 30-8 winner over Liberty. In the National High School division, Erie Cathedral Prep (Pa.) beat McDonogh School (Md.), 38-18. Taking the title in American High School division was Camden Catholic (N.J.), a 40-26 winner over Poquoson (Va.). The champions in the Black and Blue High School division, which featured all Virginia teams, was Grundy, which beat Tallwood 43-21
VIRGINIA DUALS
At Hampton, Va., January 13
NATIONAL COLLEGE DIVISION FINALS
Championship Dual - No. 10 Arizona State 21, No. 9 Virginia Tech 15
125 No. 18 Ryan Millhof (Arizona State) over Kyle Norstrem (Virginia Tech) Maj 10-2
133 No. 23 Ali Naser (Arizona State) over No. 14 Dennis Gustafson (Virginia Tech) Dec 7-4
141 Brent Moore (Virginia Tech) over Nicholas Villarreal (Arizona State) Dec 2-0
149 No. 12 Joshua Maruca (Arizona State) over Ryan Blees (Virginia Tech) Dec 4-0
157 No. 7 Joshua Shields (Arizona State) over BC LaPrade (Virginia Tech) Dec 5-4
165 No. 3 David McFadden (Virginia Tech) over No. 15 Anthony Valencia (Arizona State) Maj 16-5
174 No. 1 Zahid Valencia (Arizona State) over Cody Hughes (Virginia Tech) TF 21-6
184 No. 6 Zack Zavatsky (Virginia Tech) over Kordell Norfleet (Arizona State) Maj 11-2
197 No. 3 Jared Haught (Virginia Tech) over Austyn Harris (Arizona State) Maj 15-2
285 No. 4 Tanner Hall (Arizona State) over No. 24 Andrew Dunn (Virginia Tech) Dec 6-1
Individual rankings from Trackwrestling
Third Place – No. 11 Northern Iowa 25, Oklahoma 9
125 Christian Moody (Oklahoma) over Jacob Schwarm (Northern Iowa) Dec 8-4
133 Jacob Rubio (Oklahoma) over Jack Wagner (Northern Iowa) Dec 8-7 3
141 Josh Alber (Northern Iowa) over Mike Longo (Oklahoma) Dec 16-10
149 Max Thomsen (Northern Iowa) over Davion Jeffries (Oklahoma) Dec 3-2
157 Logan Ryan (Northern Iowa) over Justin Thomas (Oklahoma) Dec 3-1
165 DaWaylon Barnes (Oklahoma) over Isaiah Patton (Northern Iowa) Dec 3-2
174 Taylor Lujan (Northern Iowa) over Jeremy Thomas (Oklahoma) Fall 3:53
184 Drew Foster (Northern Iowa) over Matt Waddell (Oklahoma) Maj 14-4
197 Jacob Holschlag (Northern Iowa) over Andrew Dixon (Oklahoma) Dec 4-0
285 Carter Isley (Northern Iowa) over Marquise Overton (Oklahoma) Dec 9-5
AMERICAN COLLEGE DIVISION FINALS
King 30, Liberty 8
125 Reed Jacks (King) over Keegan Smith (Liberty) Dec 9-7
133 Dustin Kirk (King) over Blake Justis (Liberty) Maj 11-3
141 Bryce Killian (King) over Reid Stewart (Liberty) TF 15-0
149 Landon Goforth (King) over Chad Cantroll (Liberty) Dec 9-5
157 Matthew Danner (King) over Andrew Burgette (Liberty) Dec 11-7
165 Joseph Scott (Liberty) over Bailey Slattman (King) TF 18-3
174 Sam Karel (Liberty) over Darius Rutland (King) Dec 9-7
184 Kody Eichlin (King) over Josh McIlhenny (Liberty) Dec 11-6
197 Elijah Seay (King) over Taylor Westlake (Liberty) Dec 2-0
235 Double Forfeit 0 0.00
285 Eldon Valery (King) over Dominick Johnson (Liberty) Fall 4:41
NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION FINALS
Erie Cathedral Prep (Pa.) 38, McDonogh School (Md.) 18
106 Cooper Flynn (McDonogh School) over Jacob Brumett (Erie Cathedral Prep) Maj 14-4
113 Ben Tirpak (Erie Cathedral Prep) over Mohammed Ndiaye (McDonogh School) Fall 1:28
120 Alex Chelton (Erie Cathedral Prep) over Matt Lawrence (McDonogh School) Fall 2:32
126 Tyler McKinney (Erie Cathedral Prep) over Sean M. Scott (McDonogh School) Dec 5-0
132 Andrew Stark (Erie Cathedral Prep) over Ray Kable (McDonogh School) Dec 6-4
138 Caden Mareno (McDonogh School) over Marques McClorin (Erie Cathedral Prep) Maj 14-5
145 Grant Gorvett (McDonogh School) over Kishawn Higgins (Erie Cathedral Prep) Dec 4-2
152 Albert Taylor (Erie Cathedral Prep) over Harrison Trahan (McDonogh School) Fall 4:00
160 Carter Starocci (Erie Cathedral Prep) over Alex LaVeck (McDonogh School) TF 20-4
170 Garrett Kappes (McDonogh School) over Luke Sittinger (Erie Cathedral Prep) Maj 13-2
182 Luigi Yates (Erie Cathedral Prep) over Jack Wimmer (McDonogh School) TF 16-0
195 Dorian Crosby (Erie Cathedral Prep) over Jackson Bonitz (McDonogh School) Maj 8-0
220 Parker Robinson (McDonogh School) over Kareem Carson (Erie Cathedral Prep) SV-1 3-1
285 Kawaun DeBoe (Erie Cathedral Prep) over PJ Mustipher (McDonogh School) Dec 3-2
Misconduct -3 Erie Cathedral Prep
AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION FINALS
Camden Catholic (N.J.) 40, Poquoson (Va.) 26
106 Trevor Wiggins (Poquoson) over Michael Palait (Camden Catholic) Fall 5:47
113 Dante Monaco (Camden Catholic) over Brett Poultney (Poquoson) Fall 5:19
120 Cole McCormick (Poquoson) over Cody Walsh (Camden Catholic) SV-1 5-3
126 Patrick McCormick (Poquoson) over Harrison Hinojosa (Camden Catholic) Maj 19-8
132 Jack J Janda (Camden Catholic) over Steven Parker (Poquoson) TF 17-2
138 Lucas Revano (Camden Catholic) over Cole Parks (Poquoson) TF 22-7
145 Anthony Croce (Camden Catholic) by forfeit
152 Brandon Mooney (Camden Catholic) over Cordell Johnson (Poquoson) Fall 2:12
160 Colin Cummins (Camden Catholic) over Conrad Johnson (Poquoson) Fall 1:40
170 Colten Hicks (Poquoson) over Anthony Blattenberger (Camden Catholic) Dec 12-7
182 Ronald Crane (Camden Catholic) over Ian Burress (Poquoson) Dec 6-5
195 Mason Fiscella (Poquoson) over Jeremy Nutt (Camden Catholic) Maj 17-5
220 Robert Henesey (Poquoson) forfeit
285 Mark Loveland (Camden Catholic) over Dalton Jones (Poquoson) Dec 8-2
BLACK AND BLUE HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION FINALS (Virginia teams)
Grundy 43, Tallwood 21
106 Caleb Horn (Grundy) over Josh Evenson (Tallwood) Dec 5-2
113 Theo Gonzales (Tallwood) over McGeorge Christian (Grundy) Dec 6-5
120 Brandon Owens (Grundy) over Jordan Rivera (Tallwood) Fall 0:40
126 Tristen Hepp (Tallwood) over Hunter Lester (Grundy) Fall 1:42
132 Jonathan Belcher (Grundy) over Jaelin Patrick (Tallwood) Fall 1:34
138 Matthew Riley (Grundy) over Corey (Cameron) Williams (Tallwood) Dec 3-2
145 Gabe Fiser (Grundy) over Steven Rossero (Tallwood) Maj 14-6
152 Jacob McNutt (Grundy) over Jayden Cuffee (Tallwood) Fall 1:24
160 Peyton McComas (Grundy) over Victor Agbagba (Tallwood) Fall 1:20
170 Justin Dominski (Tallwood) over Derrick Endicott (Grundy) Dec 6-0
182 Pedro Daher (Tallwood) over Richie Smith (Grundy) Dec 8-3
195 Cullen Cleek (Grundy) over Austin Simoni (Tallwood) Fall 1:57
220 Jaelin Hamilton (Tallwood) over Mccowen Matthew (Grundy) Fall 5:21
285 Mccowen Michael (Grundy) over John Davis (Tallwood) SV-1 3-1