TEMPE, Ariz. - The Open Mat has released their NCAA DI Wrestling preseason rankings for each weight class and four Sun Devils highlight the top 20 in their respective weight classes.
Tanner Hall receives the highest ASU ranking at No. 6 among heavyweights while Zahid Valencia follows at No. 13 (184), Dalton Brady at No. 16 (133), and Christian Pagdilao at No. 17 (149).
Valencia and Hall were part of DI College Wrestling.Net and Amateur Wrestling News' No. 1 recruiting class in 2015 and Valencia's first official appearance on the mat this year is heavily anticipated. He was also named No. 1 on FloWrestling's list of Top 11 Freshmen.
Hall put together a stellar freshman campaign as expected in 2015-16, competing at NCAA Nationals and named to the Amateur Wrestling News (AWN) All-Rookie Team as well as The Open Mat's All-Freshman Team.
Pagdilao and Brady bring veteran leadership to the lineup as a redshirt junior and senior, respectively. Brady finished 9-2 overall, 4-2 in duals, at 133 pounds, winning the Edinboro Open in the 133-pound weight class last season while Pagdilao went 10-4 overall, 6-0 in duals a year ago.
The Sun Devils look forward to an exciting 2016-17 campaign, hosting Ohio State in the home opener on Nov. 19 as well as strong non-conference opponents in North Carolina and Illinois. Four of ASU's five regular season home meets will be featured on the Pac-12 network.
Tanner Hall receives the highest ASU ranking at No. 6 among heavyweights while Zahid Valencia follows at No. 13 (184), Dalton Brady at No. 16 (133), and Christian Pagdilao at No. 17 (149).
Valencia and Hall were part of DI College Wrestling.Net and Amateur Wrestling News' No. 1 recruiting class in 2015 and Valencia's first official appearance on the mat this year is heavily anticipated. He was also named No. 1 on FloWrestling's list of Top 11 Freshmen.
Hall put together a stellar freshman campaign as expected in 2015-16, competing at NCAA Nationals and named to the Amateur Wrestling News (AWN) All-Rookie Team as well as The Open Mat's All-Freshman Team.
Pagdilao and Brady bring veteran leadership to the lineup as a redshirt junior and senior, respectively. Brady finished 9-2 overall, 4-2 in duals, at 133 pounds, winning the Edinboro Open in the 133-pound weight class last season while Pagdilao went 10-4 overall, 6-0 in duals a year ago.
The Sun Devils look forward to an exciting 2016-17 campaign, hosting Ohio State in the home opener on Nov. 19 as well as strong non-conference opponents in North Carolina and Illinois. Four of ASU's five regular season home meets will be featured on the Pac-12 network.