Michigan Beats Arizona State

Photo: Sam Janicki

With high expectations, #3 Michigan started off their dual season with a win over the very potent Arizona State visitors. It was a special night inside the gymnasium at Detroit Catholic Central, giving a fun, intimate feel to the match. DCC has three alums in the lineup currently and the standing room only crowd was very into the slate of matches that featured many all-americans and ranked wrestlers from both teams. 

The night started in the Sun Devils favor. After not finding any openings, Shields was able to keep the match close with Pantaleo and steal the match with a late 3rd period takedown. The 165 match was expected to go in Logan Massa's favor, especially after a 6-0 win last weekend, but Anthony Valencia got an early takedown and nearly turned him with a deep half to start off this match. Massa would respond and dominate though with a 11-3 major haulting the fast start from the visitors. 

Zahid Valencia's schedule to start the season may be historically difficult. He beat defending national champion, Mark Hall (Penn State) on Sunday and then had to face the very game returning 4th place Myles Amine in his home gym. A close 4-2 win gave the match to Valencia and now he heads to Ohio State to face defending Big Ten champion Bo Jordan. 

Coach Zeke Jones continued to pull out the stops by pulling the redshirt of big Chicago area recruit, Kordell Norfleet, to face Abounader. The very quick Norfleet scored on two re-shots before Abounader took control largely due to a 4-point reversal in the 2nd. 

Kevin Beazley cruised to win in his alma mater's gym before Adam Coon stepped up to face last year's 3rd place Tanner Hall. Coon got to his body lock at the end of the 1st for a big throw bringing the crowd to their feet. 

At 125, it appears Joe McFarland isn't ready to pull anyone's redshirt yet while Assad nurses an injury suffered in the wrestle-offs. They voided to the very good Milhof. 

Micic looked really good with his ties and trips including a nasty baseball tie to outside sweep for 6, part of his 15-5 major. 

Profaci and Villareal appeared evenly matched early on. Profaci struck with low singles out of scrambles and defended a roll through for near-fall to nail the dual with a 12-0 win. The scrappy Italian Stallion had the crowd roaring. 

The dual ended on an unfortunate note when Malik Amine suffered a head injury and could not continue. 

It was a great night of wrestling to kick off the season and credit Michigan and Detroit Catholic Central for coming together to give a great atmosphere for some November wrestling. 

Results:
157 -- #12 Josh Shields (ASU) dec. #7 Alec Pantaleo, 4-3 ASU, 3-0
165 --#3 Logan Massa (U-M) major dec. #6 Anthony Valencia, 11-3 U-M, 4-3
174 -- #1 Zahid Valencia (ASU) dec. #4 Myles Amine, 4-2 ASU, 6-4
184 -- #5 Domenic Abounader (U-M) dec. Kordell Norfleet, 10-5 U-M, 7-6
197 -- #6 Kevin Beazley (U-M) dec. Cade Belshay, 7-2 U-M, 10-6
Hwt -- #2 Adam Coon (U-M) dec. #4 Tanner Hall, 5-2 U-M, 13-6
125 -- #7 Ryan Millhof (ASU) won by forfeit U-M, 13-12
133 -- #2 Stevan Micic (U-M) major dec. Ali Naser, 15-5 U-M, 17-12
141 -- Sal Profaci (U-M) major dec. Nikko Villarreal, 12-0 U-M, 21-12
149 -- #13 Josh Maruca (ASU) injury def. Malik Amine, 2:08 U-M, 21-18