by Craig Morgan, theSunDevils.com writer
TEMPE, Ariz. - Zahid Valencia tried to treat Sunday's match with Penn State's Mark Hall like any other match. The Sun Devil sophomore has wrestled in big matches his entire life.
This one was different, however. Valencia is used to winning those big matches, but Hall defeated him, 4-3, in the NCAA Tournament semifinals last season, ending Valencia's undefeated season and his hopes of capturing a national title.
"I wanted to get the win bad because of last year," Valencia said. "I was out there knowing that I was prepared, that I did all the right things, so I was just making sure that I stayed focused on my technique and wrestled my match; go out there and let it fly."
The latest round in what promises to be a terrific rivalry went Valencia's way at the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic in Princeton, New Jersey. Just like the NCAA Tournament, the match went down to the final minute. That's when the top-ranked Valencia broke a tie to post a 3-2 victory over Hall, his fellow sophomore and the nation's No. 2 ranked wrestler at 174 pounds.
"I was able to get him to bite on a lot of my fakes," Valencia said. "I tried to use my snap-downs, and whenever I did get into the legs, I was trying to hide my ankles. He can scramble out of any position.
"I still wasn't able to finish a lot of my shots because he's really good in those positions, but I think those types of positions got him tired so going to the third period I was able to continue to fake and I was able to slip one at the end. At that moment when I got on top, I saw the clock and there were like 20 seconds left so I was just thinking 'just hold him down and ride him out.'"
Sun Devil coach Zeke Jones never worried about Valencia managing his emotions heading into the match. He knew his accomplished sophomore had learned that lesson long ago. Jones' message to Valencia was simple.
"The only thing I really said to him was he's just better," Jones said. "Mark Hall has won world titles and NCAA titles for a reason. He's very good, but he is a position wrestler. The strategy he has to employ is hold Zahid off, hold him off, hold him off and try to steal it in the end. If he gets in a wrestling match with Zahid, that is Zahid's strength because the more wrestling positions Zahid gets in, the better he is.
"I just think Zahid is the better wrestler and has been. He didn't get a chance to prove that in the NCAA semifinals on a penalty point call with 30 seconds to go that changed the outcome of the match, but I said 'you're bigger, better, faster, stronger and more technical. You just have to go out and execute and show everybody what you and I already know.'"
Valencia expects nothing less than to win the NCAA Championship this season and the next two before eventually setting his sights on World Championships and Olympic gold.
He admits the loss to Hall fueled him over the summer in his training, and when he found out he'd be matched against Hall to kick off the 2017-18 season, the motivational flames rose even higher.
"Knowing I got that match out of the way helps me, but at the same time, it was pretty much an exhibition match," he said. "It doesn't count on my record so I'm just looking forward to continuing that success throughout the long season."
Valencia doesn't have to look hard to find motivation. The No. 6 Sun Devils remained back east this week because they face No. 3 Michigan on Friday, and No. 2 Ohio State on Sunday.
Valencia will face No. 4 Myles Amine of Michigan, whom he beat for third place at NCAAs. Then, he'll face No. 3 Bo Jordan of Ohio State. Jordan beat Hall in the Big Ten Final but then lost to Hall in the NCAA championship match.
Jones loves the challenge for his team, which earned 10 top-eight placements in the respective weight classes at the Michigan State Open in East Lansing, while Valencia and heavyweight Tanner Hall were wrestling in Princeton.
"We're in a war," Jones said. "We're getting battled tested right out of the gate."
Valencia can't wait for the next challenge.
"I'm happy, just knowing I was able to get that win and have done the things my coaches told me to do and have learned from my loss," he said. "But I'm not going to stay focused on one wrestler. I've got a bunch of great wrestlers in my weight class so it's just one match at a time, making sure I wrestle to the best of my ability in every match."
TEMPE, Ariz. - Zahid Valencia tried to treat Sunday's match with Penn State's Mark Hall like any other match. The Sun Devil sophomore has wrestled in big matches his entire life.
This one was different, however. Valencia is used to winning those big matches, but Hall defeated him, 4-3, in the NCAA Tournament semifinals last season, ending Valencia's undefeated season and his hopes of capturing a national title.
"I wanted to get the win bad because of last year," Valencia said. "I was out there knowing that I was prepared, that I did all the right things, so I was just making sure that I stayed focused on my technique and wrestled my match; go out there and let it fly."
The latest round in what promises to be a terrific rivalry went Valencia's way at the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic in Princeton, New Jersey. Just like the NCAA Tournament, the match went down to the final minute. That's when the top-ranked Valencia broke a tie to post a 3-2 victory over Hall, his fellow sophomore and the nation's No. 2 ranked wrestler at 174 pounds.
Just like their March meeting, it was tied in the final minute. This time, Zahid Valencia came up with the winning score against Mark Hall. pic.twitter.com/MegRY9F3iT
— Trackwrestling (@trackwrestling) November 6, 2017
"I was able to get him to bite on a lot of my fakes," Valencia said. "I tried to use my snap-downs, and whenever I did get into the legs, I was trying to hide my ankles. He can scramble out of any position.
"I still wasn't able to finish a lot of my shots because he's really good in those positions, but I think those types of positions got him tired so going to the third period I was able to continue to fake and I was able to slip one at the end. At that moment when I got on top, I saw the clock and there were like 20 seconds left so I was just thinking 'just hold him down and ride him out.'"
Sun Devil coach Zeke Jones never worried about Valencia managing his emotions heading into the match. He knew his accomplished sophomore had learned that lesson long ago. Jones' message to Valencia was simple.
"The only thing I really said to him was he's just better," Jones said. "Mark Hall has won world titles and NCAA titles for a reason. He's very good, but he is a position wrestler. The strategy he has to employ is hold Zahid off, hold him off, hold him off and try to steal it in the end. If he gets in a wrestling match with Zahid, that is Zahid's strength because the more wrestling positions Zahid gets in, the better he is.
"I just think Zahid is the better wrestler and has been. He didn't get a chance to prove that in the NCAA semifinals on a penalty point call with 30 seconds to go that changed the outcome of the match, but I said 'you're bigger, better, faster, stronger and more technical. You just have to go out and execute and show everybody what you and I already know.'"
Valencia expects nothing less than to win the NCAA Championship this season and the next two before eventually setting his sights on World Championships and Olympic gold.
He admits the loss to Hall fueled him over the summer in his training, and when he found out he'd be matched against Hall to kick off the 2017-18 season, the motivational flames rose even higher.
"Knowing I got that match out of the way helps me, but at the same time, it was pretty much an exhibition match," he said. "It doesn't count on my record so I'm just looking forward to continuing that success throughout the long season."
Valencia doesn't have to look hard to find motivation. The No. 6 Sun Devils remained back east this week because they face No. 3 Michigan on Friday, and No. 2 Ohio State on Sunday.
Valencia will face No. 4 Myles Amine of Michigan, whom he beat for third place at NCAAs. Then, he'll face No. 3 Bo Jordan of Ohio State. Jordan beat Hall in the Big Ten Final but then lost to Hall in the NCAA championship match.
Jones loves the challenge for his team, which earned 10 top-eight placements in the respective weight classes at the Michigan State Open in East Lansing, while Valencia and heavyweight Tanner Hall were wrestling in Princeton.
"We're in a war," Jones said. "We're getting battled tested right out of the gate."
Valencia can't wait for the next challenge.
"I'm happy, just knowing I was able to get that win and have done the things my coaches told me to do and have learned from my loss," he said. "But I'm not going to stay focused on one wrestler. I've got a bunch of great wrestlers in my weight class so it's just one match at a time, making sure I wrestle to the best of my ability in every match."