TEMPE, Ariz.—The Arizona State wrestling team (2-1) opens the 2015-16 home slate on Thursday, hosting Northern Colorado (0-0) at 5 p.m. MT at Wells Fargo Arena. The match will be live streamed via TheSunDevils.com.
On Sunday, ASU will trek to Champaign, Ill., for a pair of duals against SIU-Edwardsville (0-0) and Illinois (3-0). The Sun Devils will first take on SIU-Edwardsville at 11 a.m. MT/Noon CT, followed by the dual against the Illini at 12:30 p.m. MT/1:30 p.m. CT.
Follow @ASUWrestling on Twitter for updates throughout the weekend’s dual matches.
Prior to the match, the Sun Devils’ Inner Circle reception will be open to season-ticket holders to preview the event. Doors open at 4 p.m. MT.
ARIZONA STATE (2-1 DUALS) PROBABLES
125:Ares Carpio (0-1, 0-1 duals) OR Mikel Perales (1-1, 1-1 duals)
133: Dalton Brady (1-2, 1-2 duals) OR Cord Coronado (0-0, 0-0 duals)
141: Robbie Mathers (3-0, 3-0 duals)
149: Matt Kraus (2-1, 2-1 duals)
157: Oliver Pierce (2-1, 2-1 duals)
165: Jacen Petersen (3-0, 3-0 duals) OR Preston McCalmon (0-1, 0-1 duals)
174: Zachary Smith (1-1, 1-1 duals)
184: Blake Stauffer (3-0, 3-0 duals)
197: Josh DaSilveira (2-1, 2-1 duals)
HWT:Tanner Hall (3-0, 3-0 duals)
NORTHERN COLORADO (0-0 DUALS) PROBABLES
125- Trey Andrews (5-2, 0-0 duals)
133- Abe Fox (1-4, 0-0 duals) or Rico Montoya (6-0, 0-0 duals)
141- Sonny Espinoza (4-4, 0-0 duals)
149- Timmy Box (9-3, 0-0 duals)
157- Eleazar De Luca (8-0, 0-0 duals)
165- Joe Grable (4-4, 0-0 duals)
174- Horacio Vialpando (4-3, 0-0 duals) or Tanner Davis (4-4, 0-0 duals)
184- Dylan Gabel (7-1, 0-0 duals)
197- Trent Noon (6-0, 0-0 duals)
285- Jack Kuck (4-2, 0-0 duals)
Last week, Northern Colorado posted four champions at the Cowboy Open in Laramie, Wyo.: Eleazar DeLuca (157), Keilan Torres (165), Nikko Reyes (184), and Trent Noon (195). ASU is 4-1-1 all-time against the Bears, and the teams last met in January of 2014 in Tempe, with Cord Coronado (133), Matt Kraus (141), and Blake Stauffer (184) among the ASU individual winners.
ILLINOIS (3-0 DUALS) PROBABLES
125 - Francis Edelen, 0-3 Fr.
133 - Zane Richards, 3-0 R-Jr.
141 - Brock Ervin, 2-1, So.
149 - Kyle Langenderfer, 3-0 R-So.
157 - Isaiah Martinez, 3-0 R-So.
165 - Steven Rodrigues, 3-0 R-Sr.
174 - Zac Brunson, 3-0 R-Jr.
184 - Jeff Koepke, 3-0 R-Sr.
197 - Andre Lee, 2-1 So.
285 - Brooks Black, 3-0 R-So.
The Illini swept the EMU Duals last week, with wins over Olivet College (42-3), Utah Valley (32-6), and Clarion (34-6). Leading the Illini was 2015 NCAA Champion Isiah Martinez (157), who led the day with three tech fall victories. 16 of Illinois’ 30 bouts came in the form of bonus-point victories. ASU is 0-1 all-time against Illinois, the two teams meeting for the first time in 2013.
ON SIU-EDWARDSVILLE
The Cougars opened the season at the Grand View Open last week, with John Fahy (149) and Jake Residori (174) won at their respective weight classes. ASU is 1-1 all-time against SIU-Edwardsville, the last meeting in 2013.
UP NEXT
The Sun Devils return to the road next week, traveling to Columbus, Ohio, to take on Ohio State on Friday, Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. MT/7 p.m. ET, before returning to Wells Fargo Arena to open the Pac-12 slate against Boise State on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. MT. The home match will be live streamed via TheSunDevils.com.
LAST TIME OUT
ASU opened the 2015-16 season at the Mountaineer Quad in Morgantown, W.Va., and won a pair of dual matches against Campbell (29-6) and Drexel (27-6) before dropping a close battle to West Virginia (22-14).
Four Sun Devils went 3-0 on the day: Robbie Mathers (141), Jacen Petersen (165), Blake Stauffer (184), and Tanner Hall (HWT).
In his first ASU appearance, Mathers started the day with a win over Campbell’s Luke Stweart, getting ASU on the board in the bout with a 9-4 decision. Mathers then picked up a 9-5 decision over Drexel’s Kevin Devoy before defeating West Virginia’s Anthony DeAngelo in an 11-6 decision.
At 165, Petersen opened the day with a 7-3 decision over Campbell’s Paul Dugan, and then picked up his first bonus-point win of the season with a 13-5 major over Drexel’s Austin Rose before capping the day with a 3-1 sudden-victory decision over the Mountaineer’s Ross Renzi.
The All-American, Stauffer, opened the day with a shutout of Campbell’s Ville Heino before edging Drexel’s Stephen Loiseau in a 4-3 decision, and then defeated WVU’s Bubba Scheffel, 4-1. Stauffer now has 41 dual wins in his career, one away from moving into ASU’s all-time record book.
In his Sun Devil debut, Hall kicked off the day with a 5-4 decision over Jere Hino (Campbell), before taking down Drexel’s Joey Goodhart in a 7-2 decision. Hall wrapped the day with a 6-2 win over WVU’s Anthony Vizcarrondo.
STAUFFER WINS AT NWCA ALL-STAR CLASSIC
All-American Blake Stauffer opened his redshirt senior season with a victory at the 50th NWCA All-Star Classic on Nov. 1 at McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta, defeating Lehigh’s All-American Nate Brown in a 4-1, sudden victory decision.
For his efforts, Stauffer was named the red team’s outstanding wrestler for the classic, and is ASU’s 14th NWCA All-Star Classic winner in program history, the first since Anthony Robles and Bubba Jenkins won in 2011.
ASU’S ALL-TIME NWCA ALL-STAR CLASSIC COMPETITORS
2015 (184)—Blake Stauffer dec. Nate Brown (Lehigh), 4-1 (SV OT)
2010 (125)—Anthony Robles tech fall Zach Sanders (Minnesota), 20-2
(157)—Bubba Jenkins major Adam Hall (Boise State), 12-4
2009 (125)—Anthony Robles withdrew from event
2007 (157)—Trent Paulson (Iowa State) dec. Brian Stith, 2-1
2006 (165)—Eric Tannenbaum (Michigan) dec. Patrick Pitsch, 4-0
2000 (165)—Steve Blackford major Kirk White (Boise State), 13-1
1997 (177)—Erich Harvey (Michigan State) dec. Aaron Simpson, 4-3 tb
1995 (167)—Markus Mollica dec. Mark Branch (Oklahoma State), 3-2
1994 (167)—Shaon Fry (Missouri) dec. Markus Mollica, 5-2
1993 (126)—Shawn Charles dec. Tony Purler (Nebraska), 8-6
1992 (126)—Terry Brands (Iowa) major Shawn Charles, 21-13
1991 (158)—Steve Hamilton (Iowa State) dec. Ray Miller, 8-6
(190)—Rex Holman dec. Mike Funk (Northwestern), 5-2
1990 (118)—Doug Wyland (North Carolina) dec. Zeke Jones, 4-3
(134)—Mike Lingenfelter (Lock Haven) injury Andy McNaughton, 4:47
(142)—Joe Reynolds (Oklahoma) dec. Thom Ortiz, 3-2
(167)—Dan St. John dec. Baron Blakely (Oklahoma), 9-2
1989 (177)—Jim Gressley withdrew from event (injured)
1988 (190)—Eric Voelker (Iowa State) dec. Mike Davies, 7-4
1981 (126)—Ricky Dellagatina (Kentucky) major Gary Bohay, 17-9
Hvy—Dan Severn tied Bruce Baumgartner (Indiana State), 4-4
1980 (190)—Dan Severn withdrew from event (injured)
1979 (177)—Steve Frazier (Michigan) dec. Dave Severn, 7-3
1978 (177)—Don Shuler dec. Jim Blackman (Franklin & Marshall), 7-4
(190)—Jim Marzone (Northwestern) dec. Dan Severn, 10-6
1977 (150)—Roye Oliver dec. Mark Churella (Michigan), 5-4
(177)—Dave Severn withdrew from event (injury)
1968 (Hvy)—Curley Culp dec. Dave Porter (Michigan), 5-2
1967 (118)—Glenn McMinn Sr. dec. Jim Anderson (Minnesota), 3-2
(Hvy)—Curley Culp pinned Dave Porter (Michigan), 3:38
ON THE HOME SLATE
Following the home opener against Northern Colorado, the Sun Devils will host five other dual matches at Wells Fargo Arena.
ASU welcomes Pac-12 foe Boise State on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. MT, which will mark the final wrestling home event of 2015.
In 2016, the Sun Devils kick off the year by hosting Iowa State on Friday, January 15 at 8 p.m., followed by a rematch with West Virginia on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 11 a.m. MT. On that day, the Sun Devils will also host Pac-12 foe Stanford at 3 p.m. MT.
The final home match of the season, against Oregon State, is set for Friday, Jan. 29, at 5 p.m. MT.
JOIN THE INNER CIRCLE
Sun Devil Wrestling is just one part of a very successful wrestling community in the Valley of the Sun and is happy to opens its doors for the Sun Devil Wrestling Inner Circle Receptions. During a Sun Devil Wrestling Inner Circle Reception say hello to former NCAA National Champions and Olympic Medalists, have a conversation with wrestling coaches on the national stage, interact with former Sun Devil wrestlers along with friends and families of the program, and listen to a pre-match analysis from a current Sun Devil Wrestling coach.
While in the Sun Devil Wrestling Inner Circle Reception, enjoy beverages while having a light snack prior to heading to your seats to watch the Sun Devils in action.
Admission for two (2) is provide to Sun Devil Wrestling Inner Circle Receptions for wrestling supporters who donate $100 or more to Sun Devil Wrestling. Your donation will be used to continue the tradition of Sun Devil Wrestling and build a successful future.
The Sun Devil Wrestling Inner Circle Receptions are located in Room 116 inside Wells Fargo Arena. Doors open one hour prior to each Sun Devil Wrestling home contest.
Join here: http://www.sundevilclub.com/wrestling-inner-circle?DB_OEM_ID=30300
ASU TO HOST THE 2016 PAC-12 WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
On Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, Arizona State will host Oregon State, Stanford, Boise State, Cal Poly, and Cal State Bakersfield at the Pac-12 Wrestling Championships at Wells Fargo Arena.
The Pac-12 Conference will release ticket information at a later date.
In 2015, Blake Stauffer and Christian Pagdilao became ASU’s first conference champions since 2011 with wins at 184 pounds and 149 pounds, respectively. Their performances helped ASU to a second-place finish with 107.0 points, the Sun Devils’ best finish since winning it all in 2006.
THE 2016 NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2016 NCAA Wrestling Championships are set for March 17-19 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
In 2015, ASU qualified six wrestlers, including All-American Blake Stauffer, who finished fourth overall at the 184-pound weight class. Other NCAA qualifiers returning to the 2015-16 roster include Ares Carpio (125), Matt Kraus (141), Christian Pagdilao (149), and Oliver Pierce (157).
2015 PAC-12 SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR ESKAM RETURNS FOR SIXTH SEASON
ASU’s heavyweight wrestler Chace Eskam, the 2015 Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, has been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA, head coach Zeke Jones announced prior to the season.
Eskam was granted a final year to compete for the Sun Devils following the successful cancer battle that sidelined him during his sophomore year. Following his freshman season at Cal State Fullerton, Eskam transferred to Arizona State in 2011, was diagnosed with the illness in 2012, and went into remission the following year.
In 2013-14, Eskam returned to the mat at 197 pounds, winning his first bout in over a year by way of a 4-2 sudden-victory decision. Later in the season, Eskam moved up a weight class and started at heavyweight for the Sun Devils for the rest of the year.
In 2014-15, Eskam started each match for ASU at heavyweight, going 17-14, including a 4-1 mark in Pac-12 dual bouts. He also recorded three bonus-point victories on the year, and was the first wrestling conference scholar-athlete since the 2013 season.
THE RETURNERS
Anthony Anderson (R-Fr./174), Sully Cauley (R-Fr./197), Alexander D’Aloisio (R-Fr./133), Austyn Harris (R-Fr./HWT), Michael Oramas (R-Fr./149), Mikel Perales (R-Fr./125), Koby Reyes (R-Fr./141), Jacen Petersen (So./165), Christian Pagdilao (R-So./149), Oliver Pierce (R-So./157), Dalton Brady (Jr./133), Jesse Calderon (Jr./133), Wes Moore (Jr./197), Ryan Nantuna (Jr./149), Ares Carpio (Sr./125), Cord Coronado (Sr./133), Matt Kraus (Sr./149), Kaylon Sencio (Sr./157), Josh DaSilveira (R-Sr./197), Preston McCalmon (R-Sr./165), Tyree Owens (R-Sr./125), Blake Stauffer (R-Sr./184), Chace Eskam (6th Year Senior/HWT)
THE NEWCOMERS
Lance Benick (Fr./197/Fridley, Minn.), Jake Deutschlander (Fr./165/Carver, Minn.), Chance Eskam (Fr./HWT/Carlsbad, Calif.), Andy Gandara (Fr./141/Somerton, Ariz.), Tanner Hall (Fr./HWT/Meridian, Idaho), Paul Klein (Fr./133/New Orleans, La.), Josh Kramer (Fr./125, Buckeye, Ariz.), Josh Maruca (Fr./149/Murrysville, Pa.), Ted Rico (Fr./133/Queen Creek, Ariz.), Tyler Sage (Fr./141/Weston, Fla.), Josh Shields (Fr./157/Murrysville, Pa.), Conner Small (Fr./174/Issaquah, Wash.), Zach Smith (Fr./174/Wexford, Mass.), Antony Valencia (Fr./165/Bellflower, Calif.), Zahid Valencia (Fr./184/Bellflower, Calif.), Nikko Villarreal (Fr./Gilroy, Calif./Gilroy HS), Kirk Wilson (Fr./HWT/Baton Rouge, La.), Robbie Mathers (So./141)
ASU WELCOMES COUNTRY’S NO. 1-RANKED RECRUITING CLASS TO TEMPE
Arizona State’s incoming freshman class was named No. 1 in the nation, Amateur Wrestling News announced in August.
This marks the first time the Sun Devils have had the top recruiting class, per AWN, since 1988. The last time ASU was ranked was at 11 in 2010.
Announced in the fall of 2014, the ASU signees include Anthony Valencia (St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif.), Zahid Valencia (St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif.), Lance Benick (Totino-Grace HS, Fridley, Minn.), Josh Maruca (Franklin Regional HS, Murrysville, Pa.), Josh Shields (Franklin Regional HS, Murrysville, Pa.), and Nikko Villarreal (Gilroy, Gilroy, Calif.). Tanner Hall (Meridian, Meridian, Idaho) signed with the Sun Devils in the spring.
ANTHONY VALENICA TO TAKE 2015-16 TO PREP FOR RIO OLYMPIC TRIALS
In preparation for the upcoming Olympic Trials and the 2016 Rio Olympics, Anthony Valencia has decided to redshirt the upcoming competition season.
“You don’t get the chance to qualify to redshirt to focus on the Olympics very often when you’re someone as young as Anthony,” head coach Zeke Jones said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a high school senior qualify, but he meets the US Olympic Standard to take a year where he can train and compete, travel all around the country and the world, which will put him on track to reaching his ultimate, and really any athlete’s ultimate goal to be an Olympic Champion.”
Valencia reached the qualification standards while still in high school as he finished in the top-8 at the 2015 Senior World Team Trials earlier this year.
The U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials will be held in Iowa City, Iowa, in 2016. The event is scheduled for April 8-10, four months prior to the Olympic Games.
The 2016 Summer Olympics will be held Aug. 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
HEAD COACH ZEKE JONES
The seventh coach in ASU wrestling history, Zeke Jones was hired in April 2014. In his first season with the Sun Devils, Jones led ASU to a second-place finish at the Pac-12 Championships, the best finish since 2006, and coached six wrestlers to the 2015 NCAA Wrestling Championships, including All-American Blake Stauffer (184 pounds).
An Olympic silver medalist for the United States, Jones was the 1991 World Champion at 52kg, a four-time World-Cup Champion, and coached United States’ Olympians in the 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2012 Olympic Games.
A member of ASU’s 1988 NCAA Wrestling Championship team, Jones was a three-time All-American and Pac-10 Champion for the Sun Devils. A national runner-up at 118, Jones sits at No. 4 in ASU’s career record book in both overall victories (134) and dual victories (59). He also holds the school record for dual match victories in a season with 22 during the 1989-90 campaign.
THE COACHING STAFF
Joining head coach Zeke Jones on the 2015-16 coaching staff are fourth-year assistant coach Lee Pritts, second-year assistant coach Chris Pendleton, and volunteer assistant Jordan Oliver.
Pendleton previously served as an assistant coach at Wyoming for four seasons, and specialized in training the team’s upper weight classes. Pendleton was a two-time NCAA Champion and three-time All-American at Oklahoma State.
Oliver, also a two-time NCAA Champion from Oklahoma State was a four-time All-American for the Cowboys, and set the career record for pins with 54. In his second year with USA Wrestling, Oliver stands as the No. 2 wrestler at 65 kg.