In a thrilling night at Desert Financial Arena, Sun Devil wrestling wrapped up their regular season with a bang, pulling off an impressive upset over No. 22 Lehigh, 24-11. The Arizona State squad not only celebrated their seniors and alumni but also honored their program's rich legacy with this standout victory.
The seniors and graduate students played pivotal roles in the win, each securing individual victories. Benji Alanis (141 pounds), Cael Valencia (174 pounds), Colton Hawks (197 pounds), and David Szuba (heavyweight) showcased their skills, helping the Sun Devils clinch seven out of ten matches against the Mountain Hawks.
David Szuba stole the spotlight with a decisive 7-3 victory over Lehigh’s No. 5 Nathan Taylor.
This victory marked Szuba’s highest-ranked win in his wrestling journey, spanning his time at ASU and Rider. It was a sweet revenge for Szuba, who had previously been pinned by Taylor in their December 2024 encounter.
Another highlight was the rematch at 165 pounds, where redshirt sophomore Nicco Ruiz, ranked No. 12, triumphed over Lehigh’s No. 9 Max Brignola. Ruiz turned the tables with an 8-5 overtime win, avenging his earlier loss to Brignola at the National Duals Invitational.
Adding to the Sun Devils' success, redshirt junior Shay Addison (184 pounds) secured a win by decision, while freshman Kyler Larkin (133 pounds) benefited from a forfeit, rounding out a commanding 24-point performance for Arizona State.
With the regular season behind them, ASU now sets its sights on the postseason, gearing up for the Big 12 Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma, scheduled for March 6-7 at the BOK Center.
Full Results
- ASU 24, Lehigh 11 125: No.
4 Sheldon Seymour (LU) 11-4 dec. over An’ee Vigil
- 133: No.
5 Kyler Larkin forfeit over Logan Wadle (LU)
- 141: Seamus Mack (LU) TF (15-0, 5:43) over Carter Dibert
- 149: Benji Alanis 9-6 dec. over Owen Reinsel (LU)
- 157: Griffin Gonzalez (LU) 7-1 dec. over Jabari Hinson
- 165: No. 12 Nicco Ruiz SV 8-5 over No.
9 Max Brignola (LU)
- 174: Cael Valencia 8-7 dec. over Richie Grungo (LU)
- 184: Shay Addison 9-6 dec. over Brady Collins (LU)
- 197: Colton Hawks 8-1 dec. over Jack Wilt (LU)
- HWT: No. 18 David Szuba 7-3 dec. over No.
5 Nathan Taylor (LU)
Notes
The Sun Devils turned their season around after an 0-8 start, finishing with a 5-3 record in their last eight duals, including three ranked victories over Cornell, Oregon State, and Lehigh. Ruiz and Szuba's upsets over higher-ranked opponents were crucial in snapping Lehigh’s eight-match winning streak.
Sun Devil heavyweights have now strung together 24 consecutive wins, with Szuba earning his 19th win of the season and 11th in a row. Nicco Ruiz also hit a milestone, reaching 20 wins this season, joining redshirt sophomore Kaleb Larkin as the only Sun Devils to achieve this feat.