#3 Arizona State vs #10 Cornell Preview & Predictions
#3 Arizona State vs #10 Cornell Preview & Predictions
A full preview for the dual between Arizona State and Cornell on January 4, 2023 at 8:00 pm (ET).
#3 Arizona State and #10 Cornell will face off in Austin, Texas on January 4, 2023, at 8:00 pm (ET). This is in an incredible dual loaded with ranked individual matchups - check out a full preview and predictions of every match in the below article.
Arizona State vs Cornell Expected Lineups:
125: Richard Figueroa/#6 Brandon Courtney, ASU vs #17 Brett Ungar, COR
133: #4 Michael McGee, ASU vs #3 Vito Arujau, COR
141: HM Jesse Vasquez, ASU vs #16 Vince Cornella, COR
149: #6 Kyle Parco, ASU vs #1 Yianni Diakomihalis, COR
157: Max Wilner, ASU vs Colton Yapoujian, COR
165: Tony Negron, ASU vs #9 Julian Ramirez, COR
174: Cael Valencia, ASU vs #5 Chris Foca, COR
184: #19 Anthony Montalvo, ASU vs #9 Jonathan Loew/Nathan Thacker, COR
197: #20 Kordell Norfleet, ASU vs #18 Jacob Cardenas, COR
285: #6 Cohlton Schultz, ASU vs #15 Lewis Fernandes, COR
The above lineups feature 16 total ranked with wrestles for a potential 7 head-to-head ranked matchups.
125: Richard Figueroa/#6 Brandon Courtney, ASU vs #18 Brett Ungar, COR
Arizona State has the best roster battle in the country between Richard Figueroa and two-time All-American Brandon Courtney. Courtney made his season debut at the Midlands Championships where he took second only losing to #5 Eric Barnett. However, Figueroa has been fantastic in his absence. Figueroa won the 2022 CKLV in early December highlighted by wins over HM Tanner Jordan, #12 Matt Ramos, and #20 Brett Ungar. Either Figueroa or Courtney will be considered a big favorite against Cornell's Ungar.
Despite the loss to Figueroa, Ungar has still put together a solid start to his freshman season highlighted by wins over #21 Jarrett Trombley, #9 Malik Heinselman, and #14 Brandon Kaylor. Ungar is a dangerous top wrestler keeping him in any match, even if he’s an underdog.
Prediction: Figueroa/Courtney by decision
Dual Prediction: Arizona State 3, Cornell 0
Figueroa’s win over Ungar at the 2022 CKLV:
133: #4 Michael McGee, ASU vs #3 Vito Arujau, COR
The potential match between McGee and Arujau is also a rematch of the 2022 CKLV finals where Arujau came out on top 6-1. In that bout, Arujau controlled the match with a takedown in the first, followed by an escape and takedown in the second, and a rideout in the third. McGee will have to make some major adjustments in the neutral position and on the mat if he hopes to close the gap against Vito.
Prediction: Arujau by decision
Dual Prediction: Arizona State 3, Cornell 3
Arujau's win over McGee at the 2022 CKLV:
141: HM Jesse Vasquez, ASU vs #16 Vince Cornella, COR
Both Jesse Vasquez and Vince Cornella have had their highs and lows this year. Vasquez has a win over #9 Allan Hart on the year but failed to place at the CKLV after losing to #5 Brock Hardy and #12 Tom Crook. Cornella has wins this year over #18 Cleveland Belton, #17 Joe Zargo, and #14 Josh Koderhandt but also failed to place at CKLV and took a recent loss to #22 Lachlan McNeil.
This is a true “toss-up” match and will be vitally important to deciding the outcome of the dual. Because Vasquez is slightly more dynamic on his feet than Cornella, I give him the edge here but this match will tell us a lot about each wrestler.
Prediction: Vasquez by decision
Dual Prediction: Arizona State 6, Cornell 3
149: #6 Kyle Parco, ASU vs #1 Yianni Diakomihalis, COR
Despite being two of the best wrestlers at 149 pounds over the past two years, Yianni Diakomihalis and Kyle Parco have never met in their college careers. However, they have “shared opponents” over the years and the edge in this matchup obviously goes to 3-time NCAA champion, Yianni Diakomihalis. Parco has past losses to Sammy Sasso (0-3) and Beau Bartlett (0-1). Yianni is notably is a combined 3-0 against Sasso and Bartlett.
Prediction: Yianni by decision
Dual Prediction: Arizona State 6, Cornell 6
157: Max Wilner, ASU vs Colton Yapoujian, COR
The matchup at 157 is the only one of the dual featuring two unranked wrestlers. Despite neither Wilner nor Yapoujian holding a ranking next to their name, this match will be vitally important in deciding the outcome of the dual. Yapoujian was in the top 33 at 157 but took recent losses at the Collegiate Duals to Jason Kraisser and Isaiah Crosby. However, Willner doesn’t have a ranked win in his college career making him a considerable underdog.
Prediction: Yapoujian by decision
Dual Prediction: Arizona State 6, Cornell 9
165: Tony Negron, ASU vs #9 Julian Ramirez, COR
After transferring from Penn State and moving up to 165 pounds, Tony Negron is off to a solid start for Arizona State. Negron worked his way up to #20 in the rankings with ranked wins on the season over HM Donald Cates and HM Jordan Slivka. However, Negron failed to place at the 2022 CKLV after dropping matches to #14 Austin Yant and #15 Bubba Wilson. However, at Midlands, Negron went 1-2 and lost to 2 unranked wrestlers, dropping him out of the rankings.
At the CKLV, Julian Ramirez took first with notable wins over HM Will Formato, #2e Josh Ogunsanya, and #13 Tanner Cook. Ramirez has established himself as a legitimate All-American threat and will be a considerable favorite in the match against Negron.
Prediction: Ramirez by decision
Dual Prediction: Arizona State 6, Cornell 12
Julien Ramirez's win over #11 Tanner Cook in the 2022 CKLV finals:
174: Cael Valencia, ASU vs #5 Chris Foca, COR
Cornell’s Chris Foca is off to a fantastic start in the first two months of the season. Foca is currently 13-1 with ranked wins on the year over HM Aaron Olmos (2 pins), #21 Troy Fisher, #16 Cade Devos, HM Sam DePrez, and 2021 All-American #6 Ethan Smith. Foca is a big favorite in this match against Valencia who has struggled to start the 2022-23 season. At the time of writing this article, Valencia is only 5-7 on the year and has lost 6 of his last 9 matches by bonus points. With that in mind, look for Foca to push for valuable bonus points to help give his team an edge in this evenly-matched dual.
Prediction: Foca by major
Dual Prediction: Arizona State 6, Cornell 16
Chris Foca's win over #16 Cade DeVos at the 2022 CKLV:
184: #19 Anthony Montalvo, ASU vs #9 Jonathan Loew/Nathan Thacker, COR
Returning All-American Jonathan Loew is 5-1 on the year but hasn’t wrestled since he was injured in his opening match at the CKLV against Nebraska’s Lenny Pinto. If Loew isn’t ready to go against Arizona State, expect Nathan Thacker to take the mat as a major underdog against Anthony Montalvo.
After transferring from Oklahoma State, Montalvo is 3-3 on the year with notable wins over HM Will Feldkam and #23 Sean Harman but losses to #2 Parker Keckeisen, #17 Cade King, and #14 Brian Soldano. If Loew is 100% Montalvo will be the underdog but if Thacker wrestles, Montalvo should win big.
Prediction: Loew by decision
Dual Prediction: Arizona State 6, Cornell 19
197: #20 Kordell Norfleet, ASU vs #18 Jacob Cardenas, COR
The bout between Norfleet and Cardenas is another key “toss-up” match in this dual. Cardenas is only 2-2 on the year with notable wins over HM Max Shaw and #18 Tanner Harvey but losses to #16 Braxton Amos and #4 (at 184) Marcus Coleman while Norfleet has a loss on the year to the aforementioned Harvey. With as deep as 197 is nationwide, the outcome of this match could tell us a lot about where Norfleet and Cardenas fit in the overall landscape.
Prediction: Norfleet by decision
Dual Prediction: Arizona State 9, Cornell 19
285: #6 Cohlton Schultz, ASU vs #15 Lewis Fernandes, COR
As the returning NCAA runner-up Cohlton Schultz is a big favorite over round of 12 finisher Lewis Fernandes. On top of their NCAA finishes, Cohlton Schultz pinned Lewis Fernandes last year at NCAAs. Despite his losses on the season to AJ Nevills and Dayton Pitzer, look for Schultz to push for bonus over Fernandes who recently dropped matches at the Collegiate Duals to Yonger Bastida and Owen Trephan.
Prediction: Schultz by major
Dual Prediction: Arizona State 13, Cornell 19
Schultz’s pin over Fernandes at last year’s NCAAs:
With the above predictions, I have Cornell pulling the upset over Arizona State, winning 19-13. The clearest path to victory for the Sun Devils is if Jonathan Loew is out at 184 and Montalvo is able to secure a bonus point win over Thacker. If Loew is in for Cornell, then Arizona State will likely need to secure a significant upset at either 133, 157, 165, or 184. Regardless of what happens, this should be an incredibly exciting dual from start to finish filled with outstanding individual matchups!