The ASU wrestling team's season-opener last weekend was merely a tuneup for the difficult task it's up against tonight.
The Sun Devils (3-0, 1-0), ranked 10th in the nation, did not show any signs of rust Saturday, dominating the field in Portland, Ore., in their first action of the year. But the quality of opponent gets significantly stronger as ASU visits one of the premier programs in the country, No. 8 Lehigh, in a top-10 showdown in Pennsylvania.
Lehigh (3-1) is coming off a 21-dual win season, in which it placed in the nation's top 10 for the fifth time in six seasons.
"We're going to be severely tested," coach Thom Ortiz said. "We'll have to upset certain weight classes. They're favored in six classes, we're favored in three and one is a toss-up."
ASU's three starting seniors, Jeremy Mendoza (125 pounds), Ryan Bader (197 pounds) and heavyweight Cain Velasquez are expected to win their duals, while the 149-pound bout between ASU sophomore Pat Payne and Lehigh's Matt Ciasulli is up for grabs.
ASU sophomore Patrick Pitsch, who is ranked No. 11 in the nation at 165 pounds, will be squaring off against No. 2 Troy Letters in one of the more anticipated matches. A national champion in 2004, Letters is attempting to become the third four-time All-American in the history of the Lehigh program.
"(Letters) capitalizes on other people's mistakes, so I need to wrestle mistake-free and fundamentally sound," Pitsch said. "He shoots a good low single, so I'm going to have to stay in position and keep my hands and head up."
True freshman Jason Robbins (141 pounds) will have his toughest test to date when he faces senior All-American and third-ranked Cory Cooperman.
Robbins, who finished his prep career undefeated, had a successful collegiate debut Saturday winning all three of his bouts in Portland.
Cooperman (3-0) defeated two of his three opponents this season by major decision.
"I'm just going to take it to him and do my best," Robbins said. "Hopefully he quits before I do."
ASU transfer Kevin Gaughan (157 pounds) competed for the first time in two years in the season-opener, winning both of his duals. He takes on All-American Derek Zinck in another key matchup.
"I've seen Zinck wrestle, I know his style," Gaughan said. "I just have to know that I can win. It's all mental."
Ortiz added his team is looking forward to the large crowds, strong competition and different style of wrestling found on the East Coast.
"(Lehigh) is a tough place to wrestle with a long tradition," Ortiz said. "We're going to be in front of 6,000 rabid Pennsylvania fans, but we like putting ourselves in that position every year."
Reach the reporter at derrik.miller@asu.edu.
