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    ASU records first-ever win over UNC in Tempe

    TEMPE, Ariz. -- The No. 14 Sun Devils made a statement with an early pin and put an exclamation point on a 31-9 victory with a close match late, marking their first-ever victory vs. North Carolina in Tempe. The win also improved ASU to 4-0-1 all-time vs. the Tar Heels.

    "Overall, the first thing is always the result. We're just trying to get our hand raised," said head coach Zeke Jones. "I think we did that collectively as a team. When you're in a close battle, you have to do all the small things right and I also think it comes down to mental toughness and who wants it more. I do think the close matches, the one and two-point bouts, we won them all."

    Jacen Petersen recorded his first pin of the season to give the Sun Devils an early 6-0 lead before UNC's Danny Chaid won one of just two of the Tar Heels' bouts of the evening on a major decision.

    Tanner Hall, Josh Kramer, and Ted Rico tallied a trio of decisions, the second two by just a single point, before Joey Ward brought North Carolina within six, 15-9, on their final win of the night.

    Josh Maruca posted his first career major decision victory to give the Devils a 10-point lead, 19-9, before Josh Shields increased the margin with a 7-5 decision.

    Anthony Valencia pinned Jack Clark for ASU's second pin of the match and his eighth straight bonus point victory.

    In a bout determined by riding time, Zahid Valencia remained undefeated (26-0) with a 2-1 decision over Ethan Ramos, his second victory over Ramos this season after a 11-10 decision at November's Journeymen Classic.

    At halftime, a number of current and former MMA stars from all decades were honored, many of which were former Sun Devils, including Cain Velasquez, Ryan Bader, Townsend Saunders, and Thom Ortiz.

    "The history of MMA fighting really came right out of here, out of Phoenix. Dan 'The Beast' Severn, Don Frye, they were the original, first UFC fighters, the first few. And then you see a trail of Arizona State wrestlers that can either decide to become world and Olympic champions or UFC champions."

    The program prides itself on its successful and prominent alumni, including Velasquez and Bader, who often visit and impart wisdom to the current Sun Devils.

    "They're alumni and they come to the wrestling room all the time. The kids on our team get to hear from them and aspire to be like them. Their path is just like the kids on our team and they go on to do good things."

    The Sun Devils have one of their toughest tests of the Pac-12 season at #16 Stanford on Sunday, Jan. 22 at 3 pm MT/2pm PT. They return home to host Illinois next weekend (Sunday, Jan. 29 at 3:30 pm).

    Results:
    184 – Jacen Petersen def. Lance Armenta, pin 1:59 (ASU 6, UNC 0)
    197 – Danny Chaid def. Sullivan Cauley, MD 16-5 (ASU 6, UNC 4)
    HWT – Tanner Hall def. Cory Daniel, Dec 6-1 (ASU 9, UNC 4)
    125 – Josh Kramer def. James Szymanski, Dec 7-6 (ASU 12, UNC 4)
    133 – Ted Rico def. Nicholas Lirette, Dec 5-4 (ASU 15, UNC 4)
    141 – Joey Ward def. Nikko Villarreal, TF 18-2 6:05 (ASU 15, UNC 9)
    149 – Josh Maruca def. Troy Heilmann, MD 9-1 (ASU 19, UNC 9)
    157 – Josh Shields def. Joey Moon, Dec 7-5 (ASU 22, UNC 9)
    165 – Anthony Valencia def. Jack Clark, pin 1:57 (ASU 28, UNC 9)
    174 – Zahid Valencia def. Ethan Ramos, Dec 2-1 (ASU 31, UNC 9)

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