JACKS EARN FIRST WIN OVER SUN DEVILS AT PENTAGON

Friday, January 2

Sioux Falls, S.D.

6 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Arizona State

A wrestler in a blue singlet looks up while on top of another wrestler in a white singlet in a wrestling match

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

1/2/2026 8:38:00 PM | Wrestling

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The short-handed Jackrabbits battled their way to six wins in their dual with Arizona State, scoring their first-ever win over Arizona State, at the Sanford Pentagon on Friday Night.

The night started at 133 pounds, where redshirt freshman Cale Seaton filled in for regular starter Derrick Cardinal, who was out battling an illness. Seaton shelved Larkin's leg in the first but was unable to score on it before Larkin scored a takedown of his own. Larkin's takedown ended up being the decisive point of the match on the way to a 4-1 decision.

Julian Tagg took on Pierson Manville in a rematch of their thriller in Vegas at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. Tagg scored on takedowns in the second and third periods on his way to a decision over Manville, tying the dual at three.

Alek Martin took on a tough test at 149 pounds, going up against No. 3 Kaleb Larkin. Martin was able to get to Larkin's legs multiple times throughout the bout, but was ultimately stifled on the scoresheet, in a 5-2 decision loss. The Sun Devils once again retook the lead, 6-3.

Cael Swensen lined up across from Gabriel Delgado at 157 pounds. The redshirt junior dominated the bout from start to finish, scoring takedown after takedown on his way to a 10-2 major decision to give the Jacks their first lead of the evening, 7-6.

Nicco Ruiz and Marcus Espinoza-Owens faced off in another rematch from CKLV at 165 pounds. Espinoza-Owens was the aggressor in the bout, but the score remained 1-1 after three hard-fought periods. Ruiz was able to grab the ankle of Espinoza-Owens in sudden victory, scoring a takedown and giving the Sun Devils the lead heading into the break.

After the break, Moses Espinoza-Owens got the party started against Cael Valencia. After giving up an early takedown, Espinoza-Owens found his offense, scoring an avalanche of takedowns on his way to a 17-7 major decision, putting the Jacks in the lead, where they would stay for the rest of the dual.

Brock Fettig faced off against ranked opponent No. 29 Shay Addision at 184 pounds. After forcing a stall point in the first and getting ridden out in the second, Fettig was able to get to his offense in the third, scoring a takedown on his way to a 5-3 decision, which proved to be the turning point in the match.

Pinning machine Quin Morgan took on South Dakota native Damion Schunke at 197 pounds. Morgan scored early to get on top, where he looked even more dangerous, unleashing a series of cradles on his way to a 15-3 major decision.

At 285 pounds, Micah Hach made his SDSU wrestling debut, stepping in for Luke Rasmussen. He took on #19 David Szuba. Hach came out of the gates hot, but was unable to score a takedown during the dual, ultimately falling by technical fall, 20-5.

125 pounds closed the dual in yet another CKLV rematch, as No. 22 Brady Roark took on Damian Moreno. After a scoreless first, Roark was able to score in the second and third periods before cradling Moreno and putting him on his back, pinning him with only seconds left in the match, securing the Jackrabbit victory.

NOTES:

Attendance: 2358
Brady Roark scored his first career pin.
Morgan improved his dual record to 3-0
SDSU scored its first-ever win over Arizona State in a dual match

UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits will head to Coralville, Iowa, tomorrow to take part in the Soldier Salute, hosted by the University of Iowa, against wrestlers from 13 other Division One programs.

RESULTS:
#8 SDSU 24, Arizona St. 14
133: Kyler Larkin (ASU) over Cale Seaton (SDSU) (Dec 4-1)
141: Julian Tagg (SDSU) over Pierson Manville (ASU) (Dec 8-3)
149: Kaleb Larkin (ASU) over Alek Martin (SDSU) (Dec 5-2)
157: Cael Swensen (SDSU) over Gabriel Delgado (ASU) (MD 10-2)
165: Nicco Ruiz (ASU) over Marcus Espinoza-Owens (SDSU) (SV-1 4-1)
174: Moses Espinoza-Owens (SDSU) over Cael Valencia (ASU) (MD 17-7)
184: Brock Fettig (SDSU) over Shay Addison (ASU) (Dec 5-3)
197: Quin Morgan (SDSU) over Damion Schunke (ASU) (MD 15-3)
285: David Szuba (ASU) over Micah Hach (SDSU) (TF 20-5 7:00)
125: Brady Roark (SDSU) over Damian Moreno (ASU) (Fall 6:57)