PITTSBURGH — For the second straight season, Zahid Valencia stood on top of the podium when it mattered most.
Valencia, a junior on the Arizona State wrestling team, repeated as an NCAA champion on Saturday night inside a a sold-out PPG Paints Arena. He defeated Penn State’s Mark Hall, 4-3, in the finals to win at 174 pounds.
“It wasn't a fluke,” Valencia said afterward. “My continued hard work and dedication to wrestling just because I’m so passionate about it — I love it.
“I'm just excited that I got to avenge not one, but both my losses this weekend.