TEMPE, Ariz.—Three returning members of the Arizona State Wrestling team were featured in the Amateur Wrestling News’ 2015-16 Individual Preseason Rankings, the organization announced on Monday.
Leading the way for ASU is redshirt senior Blake Stauffer, who comes in at No. 4 at 184 pounds, matching his fourth-place finish at the 2015 NCAA Championships earlier this year. The All-American and reigning Pac-12 Champion capped last season with a record of 37-3, 5-0 in Pac-12 dual bouts. In his career, Stauffer has posted an 80-18 overall record, 38-3 in duals.
ASU’s second Pac-12 Champion, redshirt sophomore Christian Pagdilao, came in ranked at No. 14 at 149 pounds. Pagdilao picked up 16 straight wins last season, and went 4-0 in Pac-12 dual bout action. On the year, he went 21-5, with a 9-1 mark in duals.
The third ranked Sun Devil is Oliver Pierce, ranked at No. 19 at 157 pounds. Pierce qualified for the NCAA Championships last season with a third-place finish at the Pac-12 Championships. Pierce finished the year with a record of 19-8, 9-4 in duals.
The Sun Devils will kick off the 2015-16 campaign on Sunday, Nov. 8, at the West Virginia Duals in Morgantown, W.Va. Prior to the official start of season, ASU will host the Maroon & Gold Intersquad on Friday, Oct. 30, at the Riches Wrestling Complex, as part of ASU Wrestling’s Alumni & Friends weekend. The preliminary matches will start at 10 a.m. PT, while the finals are set for a 5 p.m. PT start.
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