Sun Devil Wrestling Stuns No. 22 Oregon State With Gritty Comeback Victory
TEMPE - Down 16-4 and staring at what looked like another frustrating night, Arizona State Wrestling flipped the script in dramatic fashion. The Sun Devils rattled off five straight wins from 165 pounds through heavyweight, storming back to take down No. 22 Oregon State, 23-16, in front of a fired-up crowd at Desert Financial Arena.
This wasn’t just a win-it was a statement. And it started with a spark from Shay Addison that lit the fire.
Addison’s Pin Turns the Tide
Trailing 7-4 in the third period of his 184-pound match, redshirt junior Shay Addison dug deep and delivered the moment of the night. In a flash, he reversed position and stuck his opponent for a pin that sent the arena into a frenzy. Six points on the board, momentum fully shifted, and suddenly the dual was tied 16-16 with two bouts left.
It wasn’t just a clutch win-it was the kind of emotional jolt that can turn a season around.
Hawks Outlasts No. 4 Rademacher in Overtime Thriller
Next up: graduate 197-pounder Colton Hawks. Tasked with facing No.
4 Justin Rademacher, Hawks stepped into the circle for what would become the biggest win of his collegiate career. The two battled through regulation and into the third sudden-victory period, where Hawks found just enough to edge out a 6-4 win.
That gave ASU its first lead of the night, 19-16, and left the door open for a heavyweight closer to seal the deal.
Szuba Slams the Door Shut
Freshman heavyweight Ben Szuba didn’t just secure the win-he made sure there was no doubt. With the dual on the line, Szuba dominated from start to finish, posting an 11-0 major decision that capped off the Sun Devils’ comeback and locked in a 23-16 victory.
Szuba looked every bit the part of a confident closer, and his performance was a fitting exclamation point to a night filled with grit, resilience, and timely execution.
Building Momentum
Arizona State (3-10, 1-6 Big 12) has now won two of its last three duals, and while the season hasn’t gone according to plan, this group continues to fight. Friday’s win also extended ASU’s winning streak over Oregon State to eight straight duals-a run that dates all the way back to 2015.
The Sun Devils will aim to keep the momentum rolling when they travel to Norman for a Sunday showdown with the Oklahoma Sooners.
Key Contributions Across the Board
Before the comeback began, it was redshirt freshman Pierson Manville who got ASU on the board. The No. 20-ranked 141-pounder earned a major decision to give the Sun Devils their first four points of the night.
Then came the run.
Redshirt sophomore Nicco Ruiz and redshirt senior Cael Valencia set the tone at 165 and 174 pounds, respectively, with back-to-back wins that trimmed the deficit and opened the door for Addison, Hawks, and Szuba to finish the job.
Ruiz’s win was his 17th of the season-a new career high. Szuba’s performance marked the 22nd straight win by a Sun Devil heavyweight in duals and tournaments, a streak shared with his older brother, David. And with nine bonus-point wins this season, Ben Szuba now leads all ASU freshmen in that category going back at least four seasons.
This wasn’t just a win on the scoreboard-it was a collective effort that showed what this team is capable of when everything clicks.
A Win to Remember at Home
It’s been a while since Arizona State tasted victory at Desert Financial Arena. In fact, their last home win came almost exactly two years ago-also against Oregon State. That drought is over now, and the Sun Devils did it in style, winning five straight bouts in a dual for the first time since January 2025.
Coach Zeke Jones on the Turning Point
After the match, head coach Zeke Jones pointed to Addison’s pin as the emotional turning point.
“We were all kind of quiet and just said, ‘Come on, let's get going,’” Jones said. “Shay got the big pin, and it really gave us a hope that we could win. The crowd really jumped up and rallied.”
Jones also praised the home fans for their energy and loyalty, even in a challenging season.
“We have a good nucleus of fans here. We've been blessed in a year when we're not quite winning as much, but we have a nucleus of people that love the program and come out all the time. And they helped.”
When it came time to close, Jones had full faith in Szuba.
“The dual meet was on the line, and we felt really confident that Ben could finish it. And he did,” Jones said.
“I looked at him right before and said, ‘Are you ready to go?’ and I smiled at him.
He had a big, giant smile. He looked relaxed, but ready to go-and he obviously showed it.”
What’s Next
The Sun Devils will try to ride this wave into Norman, Oklahoma, where they’ll face the Sooners on Sunday afternoon. If Friday night was any indication, this group still has plenty of fight left-and they’re not done yet.