TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devil wrestling head coach Zeke Jones announces the team's 10-member incoming class, highlighted by transfers Ali Naser and Jason Tsirtsis.
Naser previously wrestled at 133 lbs. at Fresno City College (2013-15) and is a graduate of Woodland Hills' El Camino Real HS where he was a two-time California state tournament placer. Naser is the only collegiate wrestler to have a win over not one but two Olympians. At the NYAC, he finished third, defeating NCAA champion Nathan Tomasello from Ohio State.
In the second round of the 2015 US Open, Naser defeated 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott en route to a top eight finish. Among his many accolades is another victory over an Olympian, Sam Hazewinkel, and USA World Team member, Obe Blanc. He also defeated Missouri's Zach Synon and Rutgers' Scott Delvecchio at 2015 University Nationals.
Tsirtsis, one of two other transfers, brings a wealth of experience and accolades to Tempe, including a 2014 NCAA championship at Northwestern. The two-time Big Ten champion at 149 lbs. was also a 2015 All-American, 2014 Midlands champion, and 2014 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
ASU has a third and final transfer from the incoming class in Michael Nguyen (125 lbs.), who wrestled for North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho from 2014-15. While at NIC, he took fourth in the NJCAA national tournament.
Seven freshmen round out the class including Yarhoski Aldiva (133 lbs.), Jace Berkram (165 lbs.), Cory Crooks (141 lbs.), Jack Duval (157/165 lbs.), Chance Ikei (133 lbs.), Chance Stolz (Hwt), and Josh Weinstein (174 lbs.).
Berkram is a four-time letterwinner and four-time state placer from Cut Bank HS in Cut Bank, Mont., where he was also a two-time captain for both wrestling and football. He earned two first place divisional finishes as a sophomore and junior and his highest state finish at second as a senior.
Compiling a 176-14 high school career record at Boulder Creek HS, Cory Crooks earned the Deer Valley Unified School District Athlete of the Year award. The Anthem, Ariz. native won a state championship in 2016 and finished runner-up in 2015.
Duval was named Most Outstanding Wrestler for both his junior and senior seasons at Southlake, Texas' Southlake Carroll HS, compiling a 110-28 record starting with his sophomore season. The team captain from 2014-16 also excelled academically, receiving the Economics "C" Award.
Ikei attended Honolulu's Kaiser HS for his first three years of high school before graduating from nearby Chandler HS. He was named wrestling team MVP and most improved as a freshman (2012-13) while also playing football. The 2014 and 2015 Hawai'i state title winner finished third at the Arizona state championships in 2016.
A Peninsula HS graduate from Gig Harbor, Wash., Stolz went 40-1 his junior and senior seasons and 30-8 as a sophomore, capping his career with a state championship as a senior.
Aldiva, a Tucson native, was a two-time Arizona state champion as a junior and a senior. Prior to moving to Arizona, he completed his first two years of high school at Virginia's Eastern View HS, where he was a two-time place finisher at Virginia state championships.
Rounding out the newcomers, Weinstein had a perfect record as a senior at Charlotte, N.C.'s Central Cabarrus HS, compiling a 132-18 record over four years. The state runner-up as a sophomore finished fourth as a junior and sixth as a freshman.
In preparation for the 2016-17 season, the Sun Devils will release more information about their annual Maroon & Gold Scrimmage in the near future, with the full schedule release forthcoming.
Naser previously wrestled at 133 lbs. at Fresno City College (2013-15) and is a graduate of Woodland Hills' El Camino Real HS where he was a two-time California state tournament placer. Naser is the only collegiate wrestler to have a win over not one but two Olympians. At the NYAC, he finished third, defeating NCAA champion Nathan Tomasello from Ohio State.
In the second round of the 2015 US Open, Naser defeated 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott en route to a top eight finish. Among his many accolades is another victory over an Olympian, Sam Hazewinkel, and USA World Team member, Obe Blanc. He also defeated Missouri's Zach Synon and Rutgers' Scott Delvecchio at 2015 University Nationals.
Tsirtsis, one of two other transfers, brings a wealth of experience and accolades to Tempe, including a 2014 NCAA championship at Northwestern. The two-time Big Ten champion at 149 lbs. was also a 2015 All-American, 2014 Midlands champion, and 2014 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
ASU has a third and final transfer from the incoming class in Michael Nguyen (125 lbs.), who wrestled for North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho from 2014-15. While at NIC, he took fourth in the NJCAA national tournament.
Seven freshmen round out the class including Yarhoski Aldiva (133 lbs.), Jace Berkram (165 lbs.), Cory Crooks (141 lbs.), Jack Duval (157/165 lbs.), Chance Ikei (133 lbs.), Chance Stolz (Hwt), and Josh Weinstein (174 lbs.).
Berkram is a four-time letterwinner and four-time state placer from Cut Bank HS in Cut Bank, Mont., where he was also a two-time captain for both wrestling and football. He earned two first place divisional finishes as a sophomore and junior and his highest state finish at second as a senior.
Compiling a 176-14 high school career record at Boulder Creek HS, Cory Crooks earned the Deer Valley Unified School District Athlete of the Year award. The Anthem, Ariz. native won a state championship in 2016 and finished runner-up in 2015.
Duval was named Most Outstanding Wrestler for both his junior and senior seasons at Southlake, Texas' Southlake Carroll HS, compiling a 110-28 record starting with his sophomore season. The team captain from 2014-16 also excelled academically, receiving the Economics "C" Award.
Ikei attended Honolulu's Kaiser HS for his first three years of high school before graduating from nearby Chandler HS. He was named wrestling team MVP and most improved as a freshman (2012-13) while also playing football. The 2014 and 2015 Hawai'i state title winner finished third at the Arizona state championships in 2016.
A Peninsula HS graduate from Gig Harbor, Wash., Stolz went 40-1 his junior and senior seasons and 30-8 as a sophomore, capping his career with a state championship as a senior.
Aldiva, a Tucson native, was a two-time Arizona state champion as a junior and a senior. Prior to moving to Arizona, he completed his first two years of high school at Virginia's Eastern View HS, where he was a two-time place finisher at Virginia state championships.
Rounding out the newcomers, Weinstein had a perfect record as a senior at Charlotte, N.C.'s Central Cabarrus HS, compiling a 132-18 record over four years. The state runner-up as a sophomore finished fourth as a junior and sixth as a freshman.
In preparation for the 2016-17 season, the Sun Devils will release more information about their annual Maroon & Gold Scrimmage in the near future, with the full schedule release forthcoming.