TEMPE, Ariz. — For the first time since 2016, Arizona State welcomes the 2019 Pac-12 Wrestling Championships to Tempe on Saturday, Mar. 9. A champion at each weight class will be crowned while several NCAA automatic qualifiers will also be decided.
As announced by the NCAA last week, the following allocations have been given for each weight class from the Pac-12 Conference advancing to NCAA's in Pittsburgh:
125 - 3, 133 - 2, 141 - 1, 149 - 2, 157 - 2, 165 - 1, 174 - 1, 184 - 1, 197 - 2, HWT - 2. Total = 17
Earlier rounds will be live streamed by ASU while the evening round will be on Pac-12 Network. Mat 1 will be live streamed on ASU Live Stream-2 while Mat 2 will be streamed on ASU Live-Stream 3. The Pac-12 Network will pick up just before the finals.
All-session tickets are now available at SunDevilTickets.com.
The schedule for the day is as follows:
Session 1
10 am Doors Open
11 am First Round
11:50 am Semifinals
Session 2
5 pm Consolation Semifinals
6:45 pm Grand March
7 pm Finals
5 THINGS TO KNOW FOR PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIPS
1. Though the Sun Devils are looking to win their third consecutive title, it would be their first in Tempe since 1997 when they scored 139.5 points. That season, CSU Bakersfield finished second (118.0) and Cal Poly finished third (103.0). ASU has only won the title in Tempe three times (also 1985 and 1989).
2. Individually, All-Americans and two-time Pac-12 champions Josh Shields and Zahid Valencia look to become the first Sun Devils to win three straight conference championships since Anthony Robles from 2009-11.
Including Robles, ASU has 15 in its history that have won three Pac-12 championships, nine of whom won three consecutively:
Pat Pitsch (2006-08)
Ryan Bader (2003, 2004, 2006)
Danny Felix (1994-96)
Ray Miller (1991-93)
Zeke Jones (1988-90)
Thom Ortiz (1988-90)
Dan St. John (1988-90)
Chip Park (1985, 1987-88)
Mike Davies (1985, 1987-88)
Rod Severn (1985, 1987-88)
Tom Kolopus (1983-85)
Dan Severn (1978, 1980-81)
Dave Severn (1976-77, 1979)
Buzz Hayes (1963-65)
3. In the past four seasons (2015-18), Arizona State has had 16 Pac-12 individual champions. Prior to 2015, the Sun Devils had not had a Pac-10/12 champion since 2011 and in the same four-year span leading up to that year (2008-11), ASU only had six.
4. Arizona State looks to win their third straight conference championship for the first time since 2003, 2004, and 2005.
5. Josh Shields and Zahid Valencia are currently on track to win four-straight conference championships by their senior year next season (also Anthony Valencia, who is redshirting this season). Only three Sun Devils all-time have won four straight Pac-10/12 championships: Curley Culp (1965-68), Markus Mollica (1993-96), Eric Larkin (1999-03).
2019 NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2019 NCAA Wrestling Championships are set for March 21-23 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa.
In 2018, ASU qualified eight wrestlers in the form of six Pac-12 champions - Ali Naser (133), Jason Tsirtsis (149), Josh Shields (157), Anthony Valencia (165), Zahid Valencia (174), Kordell Norfleet (184) - as well as Ryan Millhof (125) and Tanner Hall (HWT). Zahid Valencia (174) won the 11th national championship in Arizona State wrestling history while Jason Tsirtsis (149) and Josh Shields (157) also earned All-America status.