Stanford Scorches Devils

STANFORD, Calif. – Nathan Butler upset a top 5 opponent and Joey McKenna earned a pin as No. 16 Stanford defeated No. 14 Arizona State, 21-14, Sunday at the Erickson Courts in the Arrillaga Center for Sports and Recreation.

Butler, ranked 13th nationally at heavyweight, earned a 4-2 decision over fourth-ranked Tanner Hall which energized the crowd and the Stanford team. Tied 1-1 after regulation, Hall chose to start the first tiebreaker in the down position. He scored the escape to take a 2-1 edge. Butler then had his chance, earning an escape late in the 30 second period which turned into a scramble and he appeared to score a takedown with three seconds left, but was called for being out of bounds. Tied 2-2, Butler was able to register a takedown with five seconds left in the second sudden victory period to knock off Hall.

Butler's win pulled Stanford (7-2, 3-0 Pac-12) to within two of Arizona State (7-3, 1-1 Pac-12) in the team score at 11-9. He moves to 18-7 overall and 6-3 in duals this season. The win was the 74th of his career and he is 3-1 all-time against Hall.

McKenna, ranked No. 3 in the nation, sealed the dual win for Stanford with a fall in 1:25 over Nikko Villarreal at 141 pounds. McKenna moves to a team-best 22-1 on the season and 7-0 in duals. He also paces the squad with eight falls this season and now how 49 career wins.

Redshirt senior Peter Galli scored the first points of the dual for Stanford with a 6-5 decision over Jacen Peterson at 174 pounds. Leading 2-0 after the first, Galli tallied an escape to start the second before giving up a takedown to Peterson. Galli was able to counter and score the reversal to lead 5-2. Peterson started down in the third and quickly added an escape to cut Galli's lead to 5-3. Peterson evened the scored with a takedown, but Galli managed to escape to seal the win. Galli is now 19-5 on the season and 6-1 in duals. 

Redshirt senior Josh Marchok cut into the Arizona State lead with a 3-1 decision over Austyn Harris at 197 pounds. There was no score in the opening period between Marchok and Harris. Marchok chose down to start the second and took the lead with an escape. The Schaumburg, Illinois native then secured a takedown for a 3-0 advantage after two. Harris earned an escape to start the third, but was unable to score a takedown late as Marchok improved to 7-5 overall and 6-3 in duals.

True freshman Gabriel Townsell gave Stanford the 12-11 dual lead with a 12-8 decision over Josh Kramer at 125 pounds. Tied 3-3 after the first, Kramer took a 4-3 lead with an escape to start the second. Townsell, who is ranked No. 17, went to work in the period, scoring two more takedowns for a 7-6 lead after two. With an escape to start the third, Townsell tacked on two more takedowns in the win. He moves to 13-7 overall and 5-1 in duals.

Redshirt junior Connor Schram also picked up a win for the Cardinal with an 8-2 decision against Ted Rico at 133 pounds. Ranked 14th, Schram secured a takedown in the first and turned Rico for two near fall points and a 4-0 lead. He was able to tally two more near fall points in the opening period for a 6-0 lead after the first. Rico earned a reversal with less than 10 seconds remaining in the second to get on the scoreboard. Schram finished him off with an escape in the third and held 1:16 of riding time. Schram is now 11-2 overall and 5-1 in duals.

Arizona State jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the dual winning the first two bouts. No. 12 Josh Shields earned a hard-fought win over Stanford redshirt sophomore Paul Fox, 13-9, at 157 pounds. Ninth-ranked Anthony Valencia posted a 6-2 decision over No. 19 Keaton Subjeck at 165 pounds. 

The Sun Devils increased their lead to 11-3 as third-ranked Zahid Valencia, wrestling up a weight class, recorded a 21-4 technical fall in 6:20 over redshirt senior Zach Nevills at 184 pounds. Arizona State scored its final points at 149 pounds as Josh Maruca turned in a 9-3 decision over Stanford redshirt junior Tommy Pawelski. 

Stanford hits the road next week for Pac-12 duals at Boise State on Saturday, Jan. 28 and at Oregon State on Monday, Jan. 30. Monday's dual against the Beavers will be televised on Pac-12 Network.
 

No. 16 Stanford 21, No. 14 Arizona State 14